[in these united states]
I don’t feel it today
far from patriotic as I’ve
ever been
driven away by an extremism
I’d no idea existed
in such deep-rootedness
[but of course in retrospect
how could I have not known]
democratic seems to be
more & more like a word anymore
one I came across
when I was naive
& eager to learn
one that I took for granted
like freedom & liberty
whatever the hell those two mean
the killings & the kidnappings
drug dealings & human trafficking
they don’t take a day off
not on sundays when so many
enjoy the democratic sun or rain
and especially not on the
fourth of july
in these united states
july two thousand twenty-two
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
jdubqca 
I’m feeling these same feelings…struggling to feel anything good about America today.
a sad state of affairs
I feel the same. Deeply discouraged and sad. We have lost so much here in the USA. Starting with safety from mass murder daily, and respect, on any level.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this piece, Cindy.