Modernism, Chips and Salsa (12/06)

This once-small nation shrugged away the years
Of blood and smoke and bitter anthems sung,
And faced a world with new-found might, sans fears.
We dreamed of aiding all good folks far-flung.

The power of the world was ours to wield.
And sure we were that Heaven placed its trust,
In our strong will, our might, our ores, our fields.
We’d keep our strength and shrug off blow and gust.

But years of strife in rice and sticky mire,
Took chips out of our armor green and black.
Our gleeful neighbors salsa danced through dire
And grim assaults against our deals and pacts.

We’ve come to see that we lack such great pow’r
To fight the world’s wails and tears in show’rs.