Showing posts with label poetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poetry. Show all posts

Sunday, June 28, 2015

S.C.

How did we get to the state
where love and reason lose to hate?
A Dixie boy gets smiling faces
and loathes because they’re not his race’s.

He pledged allegiance to the flag
of the United States of White Supremacy.
Dad got him a Glock for his birthday
because what else to do for a racist son
of Strom Thurmond’s state.

Congregants showed him love —
they saw a visitor and welcomed him
as a brother; he saw witless prey,
victims, sacrifices to his hateful god —
his idol the Statue of Bigotry.

For shame, Dixie. Look at what heritage hath wrought —
a shot, then many more, and many dead.

How did we get to this place
where humanity’s trampled by race?
What’s the route to peaceful end
and a country’s lasting mend?

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Earth Day Haikus

Green and blue planet
Chokes, and feels nausea
Senses a tumor

Multinational
Says it's as green as can be
But we know better

Newspaper reports
Skinny bears up north, poisoned
Lake Superior

Never back down when
Standing up for your planet
Or for your people

That last verse paraphrases something I heard Natalie Pa'apa'a say at last year's Winnipeg jazz festival.