Pablo Neruda wrote a poem entitled “America, no invoco to nombre en vano.” That title and first line has stuck with me ever since the first time I read it. It translates to “America, I don’t invoke your name in vane.” The idea of invoking America was something that Neruda introduced to me and that was stuck in my head relentlessly trying to get out. I started a poem about a year and a half ago, but was never able to finish. It has always bothered me to leave a muse untethered and this was no exception. Having read through my notebooks a few weeks ago, I ran across the unfinished expression. Ever since it has been taunting me to finish it. I did.

Yes, America

I invoke your name in vain

Not out of disrespect

But because of your complacency

I invoke your ideals,

Held so high, slaughtered

In the wake of your consumption

Your wayside littered with crumbling

Institutions & Freedom left for dead.

America, the sleeping giant

Trapped in contradicting policies

You are powerless to act, fading

All empires return to ashes.

I invoke your citizens to revolution

To evolve into active lives.

America, I fall by your side

And reduce myself to beg.

They all want you to remove your mask

They need you to truly lead

They fight for you to get out of the way

Invoke your genius to defend

Life, Liberty & Pursuit of Happiness.

Life to simply live by being

Liberty to not offend those rights

We would die to defend

Pursuit of Happiness to drive

Towards the greatness, we all

Possess to invoke in you.

Yes, America we invoke your name in vain

We invoke you to lead

We, your driving citizens

Who you’ve left outside

In the reigning failure of your democracy

Disenfranchised, we gave you power

You took more than was yours

In vane we invoke your name.

America, you have failed us

Left us without life, killing

Those who impede your wealth

Denied us of our liberties

Treating our rights as permissions

& failed to foment Happiness

Your institutions bleed

Screaming without being heard

America you have failed

And yet

We still invoke your name.

I hope you enjoyed.

Peace. Love. and Revolution.