This was inspired by a Robert Frank photograph for a reading at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, in conjunction with an exhibition of the original manuscript of On The Road.

I Used To Love The USA

I used to love the USA—

land of the brave, home of the free—

but all the flags got in the way.

I realized the other day

I’d driven sea to shining sea

and always loved the USA

because I had some things to say

and no one here could silence me,

but all the flags got in the way.

Apparently, I had to pray

to Jesus God on bended knee

to prove I loved the USA—

and god forbid I should be gay

(a mortal sin, apparently)

‘cause all the fags get in the way

of patriots, I guess—but, hey,

I’m darker than I used to be.

I used to love the USA,

But all the flags got in the way.