waddy

emblems of manifest destiny

generally regarded as romantic images
of cowboys of old
in denim and leather
dirty and dusty
ranch hands and waddies
eking out a rough living
pushing the border farther west

replaced

by images of
different frontiers,
ones without geography,
forged
by freemen and slaves joining together
fighting for dignity
for equality
for life
by suffragettes in full-skirts
with sashes and bruises
fighting to be heard
to be valid
by their children and their children's children
continuing the fight
for recognition
for a level playing field
regardless of how you're made
or where you're made
or who you love


all of them can be proud today
as their manifest destiny manifests