When I was young
An anthem of a foreign land
The Star-Spangled Banner hymn I sung
In places and people I did not understand
Though I was young
I always felt, if not knew
When concerts began and stage bells rang
People stood up, and woke up anew
That while we were young
And others were not so quite
Whether you were from here, or far flung
You are in America now, things will be alright
And we are forever young
While blemished and pounced upon by time
This was the promise of a nation newly sprung
That right and might will always stay in true rhyme
Why then in two centuries and a half young
With perpetual downs and ups, backs and forwards
Should souls despair or swear with mouths and tongue
For this nation is a dream, and will carry ever onwards
Dean Marc
Written on the eve the USA’s 250th.
