Capitol Steps, Earth Day 1990

A fine day, this, to watch Americans --

    their country born in weather clear, like now;

their glorious unassailable optimism

    (as if it didn't happen, anyhow).

Crowds gather in republic places,

    at monuments -- eminent dominated sky --

to watch Tom Cruise French-kiss Mother Earth,

    acid-raining "Rocky Mountain High."

In the margin of public spaces

    dwell the injured of the free:

"dregs of humanity" -- squeezed for all!

    At parkside, with enormous dignity

a vagrant queen makes her toilet

    delicate, with dampened papers towels,

modest and noble as you please.

    Misfortunate, her kingdom kills the trees.