Discontinued American

By

Stanley H. Barkan

I’m one of those discontinued Americans.

I was born in the 20th century,
but my mind is in the 19th
and now it’s the 2lst.

I’m one of those discontinued Americans.

I still believe in the Constitution,
the Pledge of Allegiance,
the Statue of Liberty, and
“The Star Spangled Banner.”

Yes, I’m all for multiculturalism,
when it means the mix
of the best of those cultures,
when it means the crossing over
of theirs with ours, ours with theirs.

An accommodation of the highest order.

I don’t believe in getting rid of the English language
to be replaced by the Babel of the many.
Surely they make a lovely mix,
adding to our nation of Immigrants.

But let’s keep the best of the bedrock of America
while accepting the best of the new.

I’m one of those discontinued Americans.

You’ll find me in the antique shops
of SoHo, Chinatown, Little Italy,
in New York, Boston, San Francisco.

I’m still here,
I’m continuing,
and I’m not going away.

First published in the Broom Review #2 (208)