El Proyecto de la literatura puertorriqueña

for liberty, your day filled in splendor, 

july fourth, new york harbor, nineteen eighty-six, 

midnight sky, fireworks splashing, 

heaven exploding 

into radiant bouquets, 

wall street a backdrop of centennial adulation, 

computerized capital angling cameras 

celebrating the international symbol of freedom 

stretched across micro-chips, 

awacs surveillance 

wall-to-wall people, sailing ships, 

gliding armies ferried 

in pursuit of happiness, constitution adoration, 

packaged television channels for liberty, 

immigrant illusions 

celebrated in the name of democratic principles, 

god bless america, land of the star 

spangled banner that we love.

but the symbol suffered 

one hundred years of decay 

climbing up to the spined crown, 

the fractured torch hand, 

the ruptured intestines, 

palms blistered and calloused, 

feet embroidered in rust, 

centennial decay, 

the lady's eyes, 

cataract filled, exposed 

to sun and snow, a salty wind, 

discolored verses staining her robe. 

she needed re-molding, re-designing, 

the decomposed body 

now melted down for souvenirs, 

lungs and limbs jailed 

in scaffolding of ugly cubicles

incarcerating the body

as she prepared to receive

her twentieth-century transplant

paid for by pitching pennies,

hometown chicken barbecues,

marathons on america’s main streets.

she heard the speeches:

the president’s

the french and american partners,

the nation believed in her, rooted for the queen,

and lady liberty decided to reflect

on lincoln’s emancipatory resoluteness

on washington’s patriotism,

on jefferson’s lucidity,

on william jennings bryan’s socialism,

on woodrow wilson’s league of nations,

on roosevelt’s new deal,

on kennedy’s ecumenical postures,

and on martin luther king’s non-violence.

lady liberty decided to reflect

on lillian wald’s settlements,

on helen keller’s sixth sense,

on susan b. anthony’s suffrage movement,

on mother cabrini’s giving soul,

on harriet tubman’s stubborn pursuit of freedom.

just before she was touched,

just before she was dismantled,

lady liberty spoke,

she spoke for the principles,

for the preamble,

for the bill of rights,

and thirty-nine peaceful

presidential transitions,

and, just before she was touched,

lady liberty wanted to convey

her own resolutions,

her own bi-centennial goals,

so that in twenty eighty-six,

she would be smiling and she would be proud.

and then, just before she was touched,

and then, while she was being re-constructed,

and then, while she was being celebrated,

she spoke.

if you touch me, touch ALL of my people

who need attention and societal repair,

give the tired and the poor

the same attention, AMERICA,

touch us ALL with liberty,

touch us ALL with liberty.

hunger abounds, our soil is plentiful,

our technology advanced enough

to feed the world,

to feed humanity’s hunger . . .

but let’s celebrate not our wealth,

not our sophisticated defense,

not our scientific advancements,

not our intellectual adventures.

let us concentrate on our weaknesses,

on our societal needs,

for we will never be free

if indeed freedom is subjugated

to trampling upon people’s needs.

this is a warning,

my beloved america.

so touch me,

and in touching me

touch all our people.

do not single me out,

touch all our people,

touch all our people,

all our people

   our people

          people.

and then i shall truly enjoy

my day, filled in splendor,

july fourth, new york harbor,

nineteen eighty-six, midnight sky,

fireworks splashing,

heaven exploding

into radiant bouquets,

celebrating in the name of equality,

in the pursuit of happiness,

god bless america,

land of star

spangled banner

that we love.