the way to get things done

Such an outpouring of righteous anger shakes the system 

The massive demonstrations against vicious police brutality 

Coming out in support of Back Lives Matter demands 

Determined to be heard despite the violence of the thugs in blue.

Who can fail to see now that the cops are there for the billionaires

To protect their property and serve the institutions of white supremacy 

A standing army of modern day slave catchers unleashed

Disappearing millions into the prison industrial complex.

Mercenaries geared up with helmets and gas masks and weaponry 

Attacking the peaceful protesters unarmed and defenseless 

Assaulted and arrested for exercising the right of assembly

An occupying force that must be disarmed and dismantled. 

I am white but the policeman is not my friend either

As it seems we all have stories of being pulled over 

Threatened and shaken up and shaken down by the encounter 

But privileged not to fear for my life like a person of color. 

Imagine a community service that sends real help

When you call 911 for a health emergency or dispute 

Trained to de-escalate confrontations with upset angry people 

Trusted people who live in your neighborhood.

That's what is being promised now in Minneapolis 

Thanks to the power of the people marching in the street 

Effecting great changes after two weeks of hard struggle 

Showing direct action is the way to get things done.

Weehawken June 7, 2020

album

Skylands Jun 7, 2020

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another manifesto

Another manifesto stating the obvious 

Plain spoken with no attempt at guise or guile 

Nothing like the poetry favored by the literati

Included in their precious curated collections.

Is it poetry if it lacks metaphors and images

Making no obscure references no allusions 

Simply and directly expressing thoughts and feelings 

To be easily understood by anyone who breathes.

If the medium is the message then that explains it

Remembering what I did to an ivy league literary magazine 

Words printed in fancy fonts on fine paper bound elegantly 

Became typed words mimeographed on coarse paper stapled.

What once was esoteric and sold to a self-selected few

Made over into a kind of broadsheet given away 

Like a bundle of leaflets distributed without pretensions 

Handed to a wider audience than refined readers of poetry. 

And now I publish poems on a website hosted for free 

Available to all to view provided they have the link

But otherwise undiscovered almost like the dark web

Writing like another vox clamantis in deserto.

It matters to me to speak from the heart

Encouraged by the memory of dear friends gone now 

Who helped me to find my voice in their time

Knowing something said well honors them.