my soul will not bleed you may tear away my flesh torture these old bones scream obscenities but i have learned of the truth and understand my self-worth so your words and deeds cannot penetrate my soul centuries of lies used as societal chains no longer bound my future to your perspective of life without breath or pulse i would rather be than forced to live as a slave to your will
the brown bag prophet
was busy writing
at a park bench
when i was
on my way home
when i inquired
as to
what he was writing
the prophet
said
i’m preparing
some questions
to replace
those removed
by
the college board
about
real
american history
regarding blacks
what do you
think about
this one
what does
the name
desantis
have in common
with the following words
racist
homophobic
fascist
apartheid
maybe this one
should also
be
included
how is
mussolini
to
hitler
as
desantis
is to
trump
oh hell
maybe we should
do away
with the whole
college board
since
it seems
just to be
another
political entity
and
god knows
we don’t need
another
one
of
those
rarely invited though he’s neatly dressed small sweater holes apparent fame for him has been a shell game his life’s work and gifts to others have been overlooked hidden behind a wall of prejudice
child
seems like
every channel
i
turn to
has one of those
cooking competitions
do you remember
when your mom
bought
that
turquoise
easy-bake oven
for
christmas
and
we made
stuff
the dog
wouldn’t even eat
well sugar
they even got
a show
with
an easy-bake oven
for
adults
adults who are
either
trying to win
some
cash
or
just some
time away
from
their children
in any case
there’s always
some panel
of
judges
who dish out
verdicts
in the same manner
as
the justice system
so
what you bake
or
cook
is still evaluated
by
the way you look
so
honey
it ain’t
no competition
just
confirmation
beneath the layers of red white and blue fabric are some serious wounds that have not completely healed and though they are kept concealed they’re ever-present oozing an infectious hate into the bloodstream of even those not yet born part of their inheritance an inheritance of denied national crimes covered over with the fabric of myths and lies revisions to history protection rewrites turning criminals into national martyrs while the true martyrs that died are ignored cuz it’s bad press the founding fathers started this whole mess so it’s not too surprising scars are deeply embedded into the nation’s body what’s most upsetting is it appears that gangrene’s in the nation’s mind those once thought to be insane now are heralded as leaders surely this maddness is a harbinger of death the death of freedom and of all our aspirations for a true democracy
welcome
have a seat
at
the rear
of
the bus
we’ve
designed it
so
it looks
just
like
the front
only
looking to
where
we’ve been
it even comes
with
its own
humanoid driver
fashioned
to look
like
lincoln
for we know
how much
your
people
admire him
even though
his motives
for
your emmancipation
were
less
egalitarian
than
you’ve
fantasized
however
that has
served us well
you
continue
to
blindly vote
for
our candidates
out of
allegiance to the past
and
we’d like for you
to
continue
so we
place
center stage
one or two
of
yours
on
every
campaign camera angle
remember
even if we limit
your voting rights
we
want you to stay
right
if we gather up
all
the helpless children
of
the world
and
place
their starving bodies
into
a pit
telling you
that
only a handful
can be saved
then
ask you
who shall we save
most
of you
would choose
the ones
that
look
the most
like you
some of you
will
protest
and
declare that
you
would save
a broad spectrum
of
children
not dependent
upon
race
but
look into that pit again
stare
into those
sad emaciated eyes
tears dried on skin
and tell me again
skin
would not be considered
from its inception the law has been unequal for those under it its function has been and continues to be to maintain servitude and the clear separation of the haves from the have nots a systematic method of oppression that gives the illusion of freedom and the fasle expectation of impartial justice bolstered by the bedtime stories from history about heroic acts that never occurred or occurred in a less than courageous manner