war’s shallow adages
fill political discourse
the real question is
how do you politely talk
about cold blooded murder
political rhetoric
as for their promise…
broken winged sparrows
destined to never take flight
like so many lives
where promises were made but
never were meant to be kept
just verbal pacifiers
when the problem presents itself…
starting to nod off
those repetitious patterns
of old platitudes
wheeled out to avoid the truth
are starting to numb my mind
paint by numbers prescriptions
verbal offerings
from career politicians
who are carefully
walking invisible lines
to maintain their survival
trying to reach retirement
so if you reach out
you’ll find there’s nothing to grasp
hard to hold vapor
but it makes an excellent
foundation for deception
and escape routes from what’s real
where were you when the lights went off…
save your platitudes
there’ll be no raising the dead
from hope’s shallow grave
your words are dead dry flowers
on humanity’s warm blood
something to make you feel good
your words cannot heal
bloodied wounds of human flesh
nor suture the souls
ripped apart by promises
to support democracy
but bookkeepers rule the roost
so as often said
save your breath for future lies
reach into your purse
and place some copper pennies
on the eyes of all those who
trusted in your empty words
slot machines and the american way…
they started out
like
butterflies
flittering from
one
voter to the next
pledging
that their bright colors
and
promising words
were
the ones
to be heard
and so
naïve patrons
of
slot machine voting
pulled
the lever
and watched
the wheels of ignorance
spin their choice
into office
oh
but the payline
spun quickly
moving
from
public service
to
self service
so
the voter’s coin tray
didn’t pay a cent
ah
but
the elected official
like a casino
raked in
the profits
getting richer
and
fat with greed
like maggots
on
the corpse
of
society
unacceptable…
your condemnation
of
murdering
civilians
doesn’t quite make it
since
graves are
already
dug
and souls
are
as cold
as death
you
seem to believe
words
speak louder
than
actions
so
here’s the problem
words
ain’t no
bullet proof vest
just your
moral placebo
dark damp ground…
leading a walk
through
the rainforest
the naturalist
said
it’s always
the one thing
you fear most
that shows up
during these walks
be it poisonous
bugs
or
snakes
and
sure enough
loudly strolling
through
the forest floor
an off course
politician
a child’s play…
let’s play a game
of
pretend
you pretend
with
a sincere stare
that you
truly care
about
the problems
of
others
their welfare
and
rights
to make
independent choices
under
the mantle
of
freedom
and as part
of
this dolos script
let’s
have you say
that race
and
social status
have nothing
to do
with
what you’ve proposed
say
you’re
merely
protecting
against voter fraud
and
only have justice
as
the center piece
of
your policies
oh
and let’s throw in
that
political ambition
and
power
are not
the stimuli
for
the actions
and
threats
that
you’ve made
those heavy handed measures
are
to defend
freedom
it’s
really
not
fascist
and i’ll pretend
that all you
say
and
do
isn’t
just about
you
ancient bones speak…
i lie here
among
severed spines
from
lynchings
and
shattered skulls
from
clubs and shotgun blasts
so
i’ve grown tired
of
all the rhetoric
all
the promises
written
on
the wind
words
i’ve heard
over
and
over
and
over
again
words
that are
no more
than
sterile seeds
so
i’ve learned
there will be no
harvest
of
freedom
for
only the chaff
of hope
has been planted
into
the cracking clay
of
tomorrow
the husk
of
dreams
left there
along side
these
blood stained
bones
of
mine
gop superlatives…
Read Between the Minds 