Poem of William Hermanns

                  Americana

 Oh you are fine? How nice of you.
And all is fine at home, how nice.
The children fine and sweet and nice,
all functions well like the machine,
And Sundays you kneel in the pew -
God is fine, too.

And our well chosen politician -
how tough his job, how sweet his smiles,
the cocktail parties, airplane trips
and tender-fingered secretaries,
and, above all, his White House vision -
Oh holy mission!

Wave the star-spangled flag, my son,
the school and television teach
you fifty words, more you don't need.
Let three words be your life and soul,
they'll make your heart beat fast, feet run:
"Money, icebox, fun!"

And our American lifestyle, O brother
Suicidal-type behavior smiles,
the President smiles, the surgeon smiles,
the hospital smiles, no more room to die.
The pill smiles, too. Who wants to be a mother?
How we love each other!

Come food-geared tongues, lust evermore.
The time is short, warns your Near-East.
Your black-skinned folks sweat out "How nice!"
Your atom loves the terrorist.
Too long life was your smiling whore:
Justice knocks at your door.

                               William Hermanns      [P306]