Joe Pickering, an independent activist from Maine is also a songwriter. He sent us a song for our National Poetry Month celebration.  Enjoy.

 
AWAKE !

CHORUS

BORN IN A FLAME IN THE OLD NORTH STEEPLE
I WARNED THE BRITISH ARE COMING MY PEOPLE
YOU ROSE UP! I BECAME THE LAND OF THE FREE
AWAKE ! I’M THE LAND WHO CRIES FOR THEE
AWAkE ! I’M THE LAND WHO CRIES FOR THEE

DON’T WAIT FOR THE NEW I-PHONES TO APPEAR
AWAKE ! INSIDE INVADERS ARE HERE
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE SEIZING ME
OUR TROOPS CAN’T FIGHT THEM LEGALLY

AWAKE !! HORDES OF CANDIDATES ATTACK
MEDIA KNIVES SLASH FRONT AND BACK
ROUND THE CLOCK, PROMISES AND BABBLE
SUPER PACS FROM NEW YORK TO SEATTLE

REPEAT CHORUS

CANDIDATES WAGE CAMPAIGN ATTACK
THEY SHOUT I’LL TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK !
I’M RIGHT HERE ! I HAVEN’T GONE AWAY
DON’T ABUSE ME ! YOU’LL KILL ME SOMEDAY !

POL PLATFORMS OF WAR AND FEAR
WON’T SAVE YOU! AWAKE! LISTEN! HEAR !
MY PEOPLE WIN BACK YOUR LIBERTY !
YOUR CIVIL LIBERTIES ARE ME YES, ME !

REPEAT CHORUS

BRIDGE

YOU MY PEOPLE HAVE THE LEGAL RIGHT
RIGHT PARTY WRONG USE YOUR MIGHT

OPEN ELECTIONS ARE THE WAY TO ELECT !
PARTISAN ELECTIONS DO NOT PROTECT
FREEDOMS THE FOREFATHERS FIRST WON
AWAKE! AWAKE ! OR, I AM DONE !!

FADE WITH LAST LINE IN LAST VERSE SIX TIMES

Joe Pickering Jr. Songwriter Harry King Artist and Producer King of the Road Music: Music Publisher C 2015

****

Our celebration of National Poetry month continues throughout April with poems chosen or written by P4P members.