Of 1776, what was the spirit?
Revolution? Freedom? Independence?
No, I think the prevailing spirit
Was selling
Selling one another. Selling like selling
Had never been done before. Or since.
Salespeople saying, “But as for me
Give me liberty or death.”
Saying, “I only regret that I have but one life
To give for my country.”
Saying, “Let us all hang together
Or assuredly we will hang alone.”
And signing, “We mutually pledge to each other
Our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”
Selling the world an exciting concept;
That men and women could rule their own destiny.
And what is wrong with America today
Will be made right again with selling.
Selling that dedication and devotion,
and that mutual concern which made it all begin.
In 1975 I wrote this poem for a Bicentennial speech I was preparing. It was published in the United State Congressional Record and in Success Unlimited Magazine.
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