I am America

I am America
and I am
bold and diverse
and all the colors of
the human rainbow

I am America
and I wear a hajib
a Star of David
a cross
and no cross
at all

I am America
and I am all genders
and sexual orientations
with a liberty to love
whoever I want

I am America
and I live in her cities
in her country vistas
in her farm houses
and in her suburbs

I am America
and I am rich and poor
and everything in between

I am America
and I was born
out of the
enduring dream
of a better life

I am America and
I can’t be walled in or out
because immigrants
have always been my life blood

I am America
and I have a gloriously free
and defiant voice
that can not and
will not be silenced

I am America
and I don’t need
to be made great again
because my words and promises
are for all of my people

I am America
and I am ready
to resist you
to defend myself

I am America
and I will survive

Photo Credit: adrianvfloyd Flickr via Compfight cc

John Michael Antonio

John Michael Antonio is a freelance writer, photographer, poet and screenwriter. He claims his Midwestern roots while at the same time admitting his incurable and insatiable love and addiction for all things New York City. He has been the husband to his wife, the love of his life, for almost thirty years and is a father of three wonderful children. He is an unapologetic male feminist as well as a passionate lover of fashion, art, movies and music from all eras and genres. An endless dreamer, John Michael is also an avid historian, ex-punk rocker and a legendary Internet surfer who sleeps, on average, about four hours a day. His main personal website, The World of John Michael Antonio, can be found at www.johnmichaelantonio.wordpress.com

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John Michael Antonio is a freelance writer, photographer, poet and screenwriter. He claims his Midwestern roots while at the same time admitting his incurable and insatiable love and addiction for all things New York City. He has been the husband to his wife, the love of his life, for almost thirty years and is a father of three wonderful children. He is an unapologetic male feminist as well as a passionate lover of fashion, art, movies and music from all eras and genres. An endless dreamer, John Michael is also an avid historian, ex-punk rocker and a legendary Internet surfer who sleeps, on average, about four hours a day. His work has also been featured on The Good Men Project.

13 thoughts on “I am America

  1. Thank you for this heart-opening wise piece. May we awaken to what we are and what we must save. To quote Rumi, “…you must ask for what you really want./ don’t go back to sleep.”

  2. Oh Amen to everything you write John Michael. I got goosebumps too, and felt tears welling in my eyes. But together we can and will make a difference. Thank you for this.

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