Saturday, April 10, 2021

The Martyr (for Navalny)

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: WORLD DEMOCRACY


The Martyr (for Navalny)

 

The bravest warrior or the foolish heart

Those who fall in battle play the part

Of martyrs for a righteous cause

The return of justice or better laws

Let us bow our heads and pause

 

For every cause must pay a cost

Nothing’s gained if nothing’s lost

The people must be made to feel

The loss of someone true and real

Martyrdom must seal the deal

 

The one who’s called to pay the price

Must volunteer to sacrifice

His sweat and tears are not enough

His blood pain enduring strife

He must yield his very life

 

Fellow citizens of every country

All across the planet earth

We celebrate the founding martyrs

To give democracy its birth

For that is what the cause is worth

 

We celebrate Navalny

Behind the nation’s bars

In death he will assume

His place among the stars

And in the people’s hearts

 

Thursday, April 08, 2021

January 6

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: POEMICS


January 6

 

To all those who watched the insurrection

Without revulsion or remorse

You are not a patriot

No matter how many flags you wave

They attempted to overthrow democracy

And they did so in our name

 

To those who shrug and turn away

As if it was just another day

You can no longer call yourselves Americans

You have lost the right

You do not know what America represents

You do not know what America stands for

You do not know what America is

 

To those who say what’s done is done

Be forewarned

If the insurgents get away with it

They will be back

And this time they’ll carry guns

 

Wednesday, April 07, 2021

Obsession

RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: LIFE SONGS

 

Obsession

 

Fixation to the point of madness

Where nothing else exists

There is not another anywhere

There is only this

 

I have known a life of order

I know exactly what it is

There are so many things of interest

I have made an extensive list

 

But something grabs ahold of me

It will not let me go

It takes me by the hand

And tells me what I know

 

For some it’s about money

For others it’s about a game

For some it’s about a lover

In the end it’s always the same

 

Obsession steals a man’s soul

Leaves him desperate and lost

For the object of our obsessions

Will exact an unbearable cost


Monday, April 05, 2021

American Spring

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: LIFE SONGS


American Spring

 

The air implodes with life

Bursts with excitement

Players stand ready

On the field of play

A jump in every step

A smile on every face

 

Flowers in full bloom

Lovers in the parks

Reclining on lazy blankets

Sipping wine with tender lips

Enchanting glances

A gentle kiss

Tasting the nectar of life

 

Children laugh dance and play

Carefree cartwheels on the lawn

Butterflies and violins

Ice cream trucks and daffodils

Moms with strollers

Babes with wide eyes

Drinking the sensory feast

 

Springtime in America

Hope and happiness abound

Somehow we know

It will all be okay

Somehow we sense

It begins again today

 

Sunday, April 04, 2021

Good Morning

RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR:  LIFE SONGS

 

Good Morning

 

(a prayer for a new beginning)

 

Good morning in America

Good morning to the world

Today is the day we unify

In the fight against disease

Today is the day we rally

In the battle for equality

Today is the day we break through

In our desire to understand each other

Today is the day we stand u[p

In the pledge against all war

Today is the day we affirm

A declaration of human rights

Today is the day we push forward

In the quest for universal democracy

Today is thew day we resolve ourselves

In the mission to end hunger

Today is the day we move ahead

In the struggle for clean air

Today is the day we commit

In the push to clean the earth

Today is the day we plant the staff

In the effort to save the wilderness

Today is the day we embrace

The knowledge of our unity

In these and all things decent

Good and true

 

Mitakuye oyasin

We are all one