An
American Confession
(A reworking of Nehemiah 9:5-36)
Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be
Exalted. You alone are God, who saw
The suffering of our forefathers in Europe
And heard their cry. You sent miraculous signs
To save your people from hard-hearted pharaohs,
Knowing how arrogant those princes were.
Believing in your providential power,
Our fathers crossed that mighty sea as on
The wings of dawn, settling its far-off shore.
You blessed them in this promised land, New World
Flowing with milk and honey, and bestowed
Your Spirit to instruct them, nor withheld
Your manna from their mouths, but gave them kingdoms.
You made their sons as numerous as stars
And they subdued an overseas oppressor.
You gave them just decrees, statutes and laws
By which they governed in all righteousness
Hearing the cry of Freedom and her call
To arms, that slavery might be abolished
And tyrants of the nations brought to heel.
But after they had rest, they turned to evil,
Hardened their hearts and would not hear your prophets
Proclaiming your complaint: "America,
America, how often have I longed
To gather, as a hen gathers her chicks,
Your children underneath my wings, but you
Were not willing. You brought your house to desolation.
"Though not at war, you mar yourselves within:
Refusing to convert your guns to ploughshares,
You slay your brothers, sacrifice your children,
Forsake the widow and the fatherless
And keep not covenant one with another.
"How you have fallen, leader of the world
Who said in secret places of your heart:
'I'll set my throne above the spangled stars,
Enthroned in the assembly of the nations.'"
So we are slaves today, slaves in the land,
Having appointed for ourselves a leader
Who would deliver us to evil. Yet
For thy great mercy's sake, and as thou art
Compassionate and gracious, slow to anger,
In love abounding,
we are not consumed.
June 2001
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