October 2006


When Bush signed the Military Commissions Act
he compounded the national disgrace of Guantanamo Bay
and Abu Ghraib by using the fear of fear itself to defeat
the dream of peace and justice for all

Having unleashed the brutal beast of fear
he relishes watching it devour the constitution
and the bill of rights
Not one patriot, Democrat or Republican
stood up to filibuster this fatal blow
not one patriot defied the forces of fear
not one patriot raised the fist of defiance
in the face of fascism

I wonder
do I stand alone
with a bleeding rose
in my brown fist
ready to fight and die
for the cause of peace
freedom and justice
the holy trinity
of a true republic

IT DAWNED ON ME TODAY

It dawned on me today
as I sang in the shower
on Sunday morning
that I have my father’s singing voice
and his range from high to low
and low to high

hah ha hah ha hahhhhhhhhhh!

I could have been a successful singer
a Sam Cooke or a Marvin Gaye
and then cold water reminds me
that I can’t carry a tune
I don’t have pop’s ear
nor his charm

It dawned on me when I read the headline
on the front page of the Sunday Tribune
“Married couples now a minority”
that I am not only in the majority
but I am a pioneer in the single life style

Did i do the right thing
defying dad and tradition?

Is it time for holy wedlock?

hah ha hah ha hahhhhhhhhhhh!