Lady Liberty Still Stands Proud In New York Harbor Poem by L MILTON HANKINS

When did the arms of Lady Liberty turn inwards
Her torch extinguished; her poem long forgotten?
You have heard me say it often since begotten
That which makes America greatest is her diversity.

As a child, I learned some basics, some fundamentals—
Like from shore to shore, America is a vast melting pot,
A dynamic, living breathing linguistic polyglot
English, our native tongue, was not the first one here

When the founders set foot upon the Eastern shore
Cherokee, Shawnee, Iroquois tongues to them were new
Even today strange languages are spoken among a few
Mandarin, German, French and Spanish were planted here

Chinese and African labor, I know, were sadly exploited
German scientific knowledge was much appreciated
While French, Spanish, and Russian plots were integrated
Now, the contributions of all are gleefully rewarded.

The truth is that we all came from "foreign" countries
We diligently search for our long-hidden genealogy,
We must continue to welcome and help the refugee
Who want so much to call America their home.