Broken Promise

America was once known

For its promise

The American promise

That stated everyone was equal

No matter their race

Or gender

Now it’s known

For a broken promise

That was once written

In ink on parchment

That has now been burned

And spread across the land

That is no longer of the free

The American promise

That stated

Every race is equal

Say that to the people

Who lost their life

And the families who lost them

Say that to the children

Who were promised safety

And wore that promise like friendship bracelets

But then day after day

The thread started fraying

Until it was no longer a work of art

But a masterpiece of destruction

Reflecting america in every frayed strand

And untied knot

The american promise

All genders are equal

Tell that to the women

Who are no longer here

Whose healthcare got banned

And rights slowly taken away

One by one

Like flower petals

That fall to the ground

But not as elegant

And with no promise to return

Tell the to the little girls

Whose hopes and dreams

Floated up to the clouds

And ended up in the darkest pits of despair

The little girls who learned early

The little girls who didn’t get to be little girls

The little girls who stopped hoping and dreaming

As america ends up in the darkest pits of despair

The american promise

Is a broken promise

Of frayed strands

And fallen petals

A promise that is no longer kept

A broken promise