Tuesday, January 12, 2021

what happens next

What happens next in general is predictable

The fascists are emboldened by how easy it was

Assaulting and occupying the Capitol building 

Sending the politicians scurrying away in fear


The police are pushovers with kid gloves 

When it comes to confronting white supremacy 

Infiltrated from top to bottom by the fascists 

Letting almost all of them depart to go home exultant


The live stream fundraising brought in lots of money 

And so many new recruits eager for action

Even the FBI no friend of ours is warning 

Expect armed protests in all 50 state capitals.


And nothing is being done in response 

To show mass opposition to these thugs

As the Democrats ask everyone to sit passively 

Saying please don't go to the inauguration 


It is the aroused people mobilized in the streets 

Who lead the way to win gains not the politicians 

Including the Democrats who watch and do little 

No help unless they are pushed from below


The fascists will be on the attack in the days ahead

Going after the same target groups the Nazis did

People of color and people with disabilities 

Socialists, union activists, Jews, and LGBTQ


Do not sit back trapped in a false choice 

Not wanting to support the lame Democrats 

When there's a slogan we can all get behind 

We Say No! To Fascism!

Monday, January 11, 2021

Sanibel Ding Darling NWR January 11, 2021

Sunday, January 10, 2021

in a quiet place

The rumble and roar and loud beeping noise

Traffic and planes and machinery grinding 

If that was all I could hear when walking outside 

My ears would wish to be in a quiet place 


To find somewhere to enjoy listening closely 

Away from human commerce and commotion 

Able to hear the subtle sounds in nature 

Especially the birds calling and their sweet songs


This is where I find my everyday happiness 

Having learned to identify the individual species 

Excited when hearing an unfamiliar phrase 

Getting a glimpse and discovering the bird


All this was always there unknown to me

Until I became interested in the particular details 

Seen only if you look and pay attention 

Heard only if you recognize the patterns 


My hearing range somewhat limits what I can hear 

As is also true for my partner in the field 

But our gaps complement for more complete coverage 

Alerting each other to certain high and low notes


There are songs heard only in breeding season

That must be remembered again each year

And songs that change by the time of day

Between morning foraging and evening roost


There's so much information that could be shared

But words cannot convey the delightful experience 

Being in the presence of a thrush or veery or a meadowlark 

Or any of the songs and the sight of feathered beauty 

Saturday, January 9, 2021

fake fraud

Was the election in Bolivia really a fraud

As declared by the government here

After years undermining a popular indigenous leader

Backing a coup to install a puppet government 


Were the elections in Venezuela not free and fair 

After years of economic warfare called sanctions 

Designed to create mass unrest and overthrow 

That government that dares to defy this one


Were those not armed fascists in Ukraine 

Who attacked the parliament in session 

Seizing power while protesting the election results

Praised by this government as patriots


Such a long litany of imperialist subversion 

The history of plots to bring about regime change

Whenever and wherever a leader dares to resist

Orchestrated by this government and its agents 


And there are so many other violated countries to name 

But that has always been something somewhere else

Not the very same total lies and violence here at home

As the fascists boldly mobilize in a show of force


The same fake fraud story line peddled overseas

Now seen up close and personal by everyone here

With the police going along for the most part 

Joined with these racists in standing for white supremacy 


This is a moment to understand the false choice 

Between fake fraud and lesser evil fake democracy 

We must fight fascism fiercely in the streets 

And organize our class to lead to a socialist state