global participation…

fourth of july and
the entire planet takes part
in fatal cookout

 

 

advantage…

political posturing
economic concerns primary
sanctity of life secondary
a pandemic of greed
game set death

 

 

global catering service…

always believed
that
the world
i saw
would evolve
to
include me
but
ain’t nothing
changed
justice
is still sleeping
and
folks like me
are
more
than
welcomed
to
serve
but
not
eat

 

 

important symbolically for politics…

words of condolence and shared sorrow
placing flowers on a martyr’s grave
promising justice and change
but in the end
nothing but gold gilding on unceasing death

 

 

resolute…

i will have
no
brand upon my skin
whether
it
be
for
pledging allegiance
or
human bondage
neither
will serve
my
soul
nor
insure
one moment
of
my life
so
i
will have
no
cattle brand
upon
my skin
and
if branded
by
force
i shall
remove
that skin
even
if
death
surely
follows

 

 

gravestone rubbings…

butcher paper
and
chalk
tombstone inscriptions
abbreviated history
of a nation’s
inhumanity
and
the forgotten dreams
of
freedom

no forwarding address…

want to contact god
but despite my best efforts
there’s no new address
the old church hangouts are now
sublet to vain charlatans

 

as children die…

from beneath the wall
streams of blood started flowing
passers-by looked down
then stepped over the warm blood
their evening meal was waiting

 

asthma enlightenment…

unable to breathe
lungs refuse to fill with air
death reveals itself
no visions seen of heaven
just desperate aspirations

songs in a strange land: #5…

far away there’s drums
pulsing like our ancient blood
calling us to war