Tic Toc-Welcome to the Great American Killoff

A narrative prose piece reflecting Violence in America

Tic Toc

The Have and Have Nots

If the have nots only want what the haves have in regards to material wealth, then nothing’s changed.

If the oppressed only want to be the oppressor then nothings changed.

If the haves won't share/give to the have nots then nothings changed.

There only so much to go around and too few have too much, many have what they don't need, and

too many want what can't be bought and can only be stolen.

When will it stop?

This merry go round of desperation and greed.

My only hope is that somewhere in the world/ a child has been born /who will never bend to old/ the forever disgraced/ the folly of youth/the superiority of race/division of gender/but rise up to face/ lead us into the future/ the reciprocity of equal/the sharing of freedom/the it person.

Monster- A Contribution by Frank Andrick

Here is contribution from Frank Andrick, a sixties memorialist and memory master. I love these particular moments in music and poetic history though like others say about this song by Steppenwolf didn’t get the attention other songs did, I think, because it was political. The one thing this song/poetry illustrates is that while we filled the streets, while we were in the midst of the fight that is the same fight younger people today struggle with and must continue, The past, present and the future is/was/will be one big, mirrored funhouse of horrors, we have to laugh to keep from crying. Don't give up Hope, Change is on the way. 

Steppenwolf-Monster

Here's the lyrics to the video supplied by Frank Andrick.
MONSTER by John McKay/Steppenwolf
Once the religious, the hunted and weary Chasing the promise of freedom and hope Came to this country to build a new vision Far from the reaches of Kingdom and pope Like good Christians some would burn the witches Later some got slaves to gather riches But still from near and far to seek America They came by thousands, to court the wild But she just patiently smiled and bore a child To be their spirit and guiding light And once the ties with the crown had been broken Westward in saddle and wagon it went And till the railroad linked ocean to ocean Many the lives which had come to an end While we bullied, stole and bought a homeland We began the slaughter of the red man But still from near and far to seek America They came by thousands to court the wild But she just patiently smiled and bore a child To be their spirit and guiding light The Blue and Grey they stomped it They kicked it just like a dog And when the war was over They stuffed it just like a hog And though the past has its share of injustice Kind was the spirit in many a way But its protectors and friends have been sleeping Now it's a monster and will not obey The spirit was freedom and justice And its keepers seemed generous and kind Its leaders were supposed to serve the country But now they won't pay it no mind Cause the people grew fat and got lazy Now their vote is a meaningless joke They babble about law and order But it's all just an echo of what they've been told Yeah, there's a monster on the loose It's got our heads into the noose And it just sits there watchin' The cities have turned into jungles And corruption is stranglin' the land The police force is watching the people And the people just can't understand We don't know how to mind our own business 'Cause the whole world's got to be just like us Now we are fighting a war over there No matter who's the winner we can't pay the cost 'Cause there's a monster on the loose It's got our heads into the noose And it just sits there watchin' America, where are you now Don't you care about your sons and daughters Don't you know we need you now We can't fight alone against the monster America, where are you now Don't you care about your sons and daughters Don't you know we need you now We can't fight alone against the monster America...America...America...America... Songwriters: Jerry Edmonton / John Kay Monster lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

SOAW 2018 Border Encuentro: ¡Cantemos América!

Collaborative Poem-Violence in America-Music by Ana Tijoux

Combo Poem on Violence

This is a collaborative poem written and read by writers and poets at Writers On the Air Open Mic, March 24th, 2018. Each writer wrote 1-5 lines with the only connection being the theme-Violence in America. Readers are todd, frederick, susan, pete, katya, and gena.

Music by Ana Tijoux

Violence in America- Two poems

Final Exam by Frederick Foote Take a gun to school the new fucking golden rule the fucking school And it's alright and it's okay The Constitution pledges allegiance to this rule of blood and bullets A ballet of death anyone can dance to and fro from classroom to graveyard your final, final exam Killer I,ii,iii by Katya Mills "killer i: a killer dies by taking life. when you must take a life to have it, you have little life to begin with, to need it so bad. and then to steal that which is not yours, you confirm you have no guts." killer ii: a killer is lost like a river wandered off became a stream then an eddy then a trickle until it dropped off the face of the earth and dried up into nothing, so far from the source was it killer iii: they will not ever be who they were before they killed. the part of them that had a chance to be anything other than cold-blooded is gone with the light in their eyes

Snowball in Hell