I love my country,
by which I mean I am indebted joyfully
to all the people throughout its history who have fought the government to make right;
where so many cunning sons and daughters,
our foremothers and forefathers came singing through slaughter,
came through hell and high water
so that we could stand here and behold breathlessly the sight:
how a raging river of tears is cutting a grand canyon of light.