Shame Sings Our National Anthem
(Apologies! I’m late posting today because we had no electricity or wifi.)
I have seen the light of ten thousand days
Grow dim and sink and fade in the West. Eva Gore Booth
“The Body to the Soul”
the land suffers neglect and abuse
data centers, species loss, screw worms
in unbridled deceit
erasure of open bidding
data centers, species loss, screw worms
red lantern flies, poisonous shrubs murder dray horses
erasure of open bidding
disregard for tribal boundaries
red lantern flies, poisonous shrubs murder dray horses
public lands for private enterprise
disregard for tribal boundaries
demise of science and vanishing wellness
public lands for private enterprise
sweeping stock profits manipulated by market magic
demise of science and vanishing wellness
is another pandemic brewing?
sweeping stock profits manipulated by market magic
unbridled deceit with the rush of –isms and phobias
is another pandemic brewing?
state secrets clutter the clearance shelf
unbridled deceit with the rush of – isms and phobias
there are plenty of classified documents for all
state secrets clutter the clearance shelf
is the nuclear code now simply WTAF?
there are plenty of state secrets for all
other secrets shudder behind redactions
is the nuclear code now simply WTAF?
black Sharpies shutter names
other secrets shudder behind redactions
the winds of law vary by neighborhood
as black Sharpies shutter names
where once I saw a shining beacon
the winds of law vary by neighborhood
and now I see a pit of decay and decrepitude
where once I saw a shining beacon
the Department of Justice thinks it’s the Department of War
and now I see a pit of decay and decrepitude
the Department of War forgets its mandate is defense
the Department of Justice thinks it’s the Department of War
we cannot reflect for the masses of algae
the Department of War forgets its mandate is defense
in unbridled deceit
we cannot reflect for the masses of algae
the land suffers neglect and abuse.
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WOW! E.E., this poem is beyond impressive. The form is the perfect container for the message. You highlight such significant issues our world faces, and yet, you do so in a way that makes them accessible and rhythmic. I find myself singing along and rather than feeling despair, I find myself thinking of what can be done to elicit change. An amazing write!