It’s dominating the world news
and countries everywhere
are sending fire fighters to help
because California
with the fifth largest
world economy
is known respected
and loved like Hollywood
which gave the world
its democratic face
no wonder when
Shirley and I
went to Europe
thirty years ago
and people asked
“Where you from?”
we didn’t say
America or the U.S.
we said “California”
and immediately
the arms opened
voices chorused
“my cousin went there!”
and
“Hollywood!”
we were taken in
never strangers
and now I see it again
California unifies the world
because good people
are everywhere