the main event…

a small audience
as usual
high wagering
money
no object
for
the bettors
wagers
not
on winners
but
who
loses first
for
the social gladiators
chained together
could never
have
a real
winner
since
the victor
was obliged
to toss
their opponent’s body
over a ledge
into the sea
thus
dooming
the victor
to
the same
fate
as
his contrived
enemy
a curious
cultural battle
but
not
unlike
daily life

a sudden loss of cabin pressure…

what shall we place
on
america’s gravestone
here lies
a nation
aborted
by
its greed
and
intolerance
of
its
own history
or
an unborn promise
made
with its fingers crossed
concealed
behind
a back of hate
and
prejudice
all
the while
scripting words
constituting
a justification
for
continuation
of
an oligarchy
but
with
more than
one
king
a feudal state
with
all the trappings
of
the middle ages

 

 

republican tyranny…

they see us as serfs
working to increase their wealth
and for us nothing

 

 

why so happy…

you do
know
there’s a pandemic
and
economic chaos
as well as
a situation
in which
half
of
the american population
is willing
to support
a self-pandering fascist
oh
you
must understand
i have
no
faith
in
my fellow man’s
concern
or
compassion
for
others
but
i do have
extreme faith
in
my fellow man’s
greed
that needs
a healthy population
and
some semblance
of
democracy
in order
for
said population
to
go to work
earn money
and
buy
all the things
destroying
the
planet

 

no good deed…

grew up
in
small
midwestern town
surrounded
by
liberal friends
and
family
so
almost
forgot
i
was
black
but
couldn’t avoid
cultivated racism
even
when
protecting
a poor white friend
with
polio
as
he dragged
one foot
being
taunted
by
neighborhood bullies
he decided
to
side
with
his white tormentors
when
they challenged
his
whiteness
he chose
to
turn on me
that’s
how deeply
slavery’s caste system
has been
embedded
in
the social fabric
of
the consciousness
of
even children
lesson
learned
even
after
a
red hot branding iron
loses
it’s
visible signs
of
danger
it
can
sear
the flesh
burning
into
the days
that
follow

 

consumed…

so easily confused
the prey
or
the predator
roles
that often
seem
interchangable
depending
on the moment
in
history
but
there are
only
a few
true predators
consuming
every aspect
of
their prey’s life
their
flesh
and
bones
even
their souls
are
cannibalized
but
the unwary prey
go about their
ritualized routines
praying
in
churches
grasping bibles
while holding
questioning faith
riding
subways
to
resent filled positions
where
they’re demeaned
on
a regular schedule
but
the salary’s necessary
to
payoff the debt
they owe
the predators
so
they
continue
to be
consumed