" THE INDOCTRINATION" (or, Shall I Say)

Shall I say, I have gone at dawn, through littered streets
Watched the steam rising, from city grates
Through the eyes of homeless men
Finding warmth, wherever they can
Still standing tall and proud of these United states
I think I can, I know I must, for other men I know and trust
The banner brave, the whores are too, the late night lust
It pays the bills, and completes
The indoctrination...

Shall I say, a man is nothing, right to his face to start him working
Or do I bathe this very same man, give him tools, to understand
That his country has not forgotten, him, or others like him
Take his hand, be his friend for real, and listen to him
His entire story, and not just
The indoctrination...

Shall I say, I Love my country, or do I debate
With angry words, that accomplish nothing
Or do I stand up, work hard each day
Become the example
Lending a hand, to anyone, no matter what
Doing the filthy work, of foul mouthed men
Who write the rules
Of indoctrination...

Shall I say, I Love my country, dam straight I can
For I'm a man, that Love's his brothers
I'm a man, who's learned from others
Mostly men, who toil each day, some sleep on grates
But they pass on honor, each and every day, to one another
You can say, I Love my country, but most of all
I Love her children...

Tony Taylor   (Chicago)