Bicentennial #1
by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Lincoln Continental is not so international
In the world of homespun garbage
The American charnel ground is magnificent
With dignified glory
The tombstones of the forefathers
The victory over the English
Still eating hamburger
Which is fit for vegetarians
Every state shed its blood
In the name of freedom
With resounding utterance of Brezhnev's sarcasm
Home of the pilgrims
Nest of the Buddhists
When sad people can shed their tears in the oceans
Divorcees by the millions a minute
How curious
Proud youth
Seductive maidens
With American hips
Wrapped with sky-blue jeans
Carrying occasional wallets
Drinking their bourbon
Partying in their lofts
Introducing their wisdom of frankness
With their nose-to-nose approach
How deliciously smelly America is
Phillips-head screwdriver
Even Toyotas are acceptable
Such a free country
In your red white and blue color
Egalitarian doctrine proclaims
We have accomplished a lot
We have achieved the great
The richest nation on the earth
The poorest hotdog
The home of the dirty socks
Clean-cut world of justice
May Americana last forever
With its status
May its rustic smile and red neck
Be good forever
May America conquer the world
And its moon
And the sun
Jupiter
[81]
Most of all
May America conquer
Its smelly socks
With the help of Ajax
Such a nice country!
America has to offer
Our own moon
Our own sun
Our own rockets
Which go with dharmapalas
One day America will be
The defender of the faith
Nevertheless
The stars of pride
And the stripes of speed
Justify themselves
May the Concorde land in America
May the zafus of sanity plop over the fifty states of America
Eagle is Garuda!

New York City, NY, 25 February 1976