lives fleshing (the) dream of the beautiful, needful thing.
-- Frederick Douglas, by Robert Hayden
1 Powerful and Continuing Nationalism
The stars are not violent
except twinkling twin shoulders
over whitest smile.
2 Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Rose bouquets will never heal all
except when demons hold them
between their teeth.
3 Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
Love thy neighbor, and some of God’s
children but if their hands
are folded, shoot first.
4 Supremacy of the Military
Mist is not malevolent
except when baked with pepper and mace;
add sulfur for fun.
5 Rampant Sexism
Happy fingers snap or clap
especially when the He
fucks the sultry and dumb.
6 Controlled Mass Media
Agree with the immaculate doctrine
fake news as fakes news does –
the He says so!
7 Obsession with National Security
Inter the bad guys while they sleep
cage them before they
foul our perfect gardens.
8 Religion and Government are Intertwined
The flipped bible in the paws of a zealot
proves might is right,
and despots can be holy.
9 Corporate Power is Protected
Release the yoke of deregulation
let the rape begin and the elite
shall reap all manna.
10 Labor Power is Suppressed
Insects live and work in hives
except when we melt the nests
where they breed.
11 Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
That doesn’t rhyme;
I hate those colors.
Eggheads everywhere need scrambling J
12 Obsession with Crime and Punishment
Choke those non-white bastards.
Vigilantes and cowboys
will tip the scale our way.
13 Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
We know who our friends are
the He will trickle down,
everybody’s bounty, eventually.
14 Fraudulent Elections
We don’t need another hero
can’t trust ballots, or boundaries,
only bail outs.
Amen
You can ignore the weather
as rain is simple enough in its grandeur.
--Sam Barbee
previously published in Poetry That Sustains Us AT&T University
previously published in Poetry That Sustains Us AT&T University
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