SM Babylon

Novel Cafe', Santa Monica
January 21, 2009


Redemption time has arrived.
Joshua stands tall on the steps.
The flock follow:
Democrats, Republicans, gay, straight, men and women. young, old,
And as the wizened old preacher said; black, brown, yellow, red and white.
And beyond the borders:
British and French, Nigerian and Kenyan, Korean and Indian, Panamanian and Argentine.
How can this one man mean so much to so many?
Our hopes and dreams for salvation are embodied in this unexpected savior.
In the church they say something such as this could only be god's will.
The minority party crankily says if not for the economy.
But no.
It was inevitable from the time he made that speech in 2004.
He knew he was called.
We knew that we were headed for the precipice.
No one else would do.
Only this son of Kansas and Kenyan farm stock.
Born in the tropic o'hana of Hawaii.
Raised in the sweltering heat of Jakarta.
Educated in L.A., N.Y. and Boston.
Honed on the streets and dirty politics of Chicago.

We have waited forty years.
Forty long years in the far country.
Enduring a political pro masterminding a third rate break-in and declaring 'I am not a crook.'
Praying with a political novice too good to be president.
Inflating our ego with the third string actor who convinced us that morning had returned.
Grimacing while another seasoned politician said, 'I did not have sex with that woman.'
Losing our homes while another scion of privilege claimed 'Mission accomplished.'

The preacher saw clearly from the mountain top that day in '68.
A generation matured and aged and the dream was put in the back closet.
Hardly believing its eyes and ears when the prophet appeared.
We watched the pageant of suitors.
We the...
Children of the Depression.
Survivors of Selma and Montgomery.
Warriors from People's Park and Colombia.
Consumers fed by Silicon Valley and China.
Immigrants from Oaxaca and Trinidad and Congo and Britain and Thailand and 150 other lands.
Ultimately, we coalesced in the inevitable.
Our voices harmonizing and
Standing together to claim the dream so long deferred.
We have made it to the promised land.
Our eyes have seen the glory.
Let's pick up our collective beds and walk.

Labels: Inauguration poem