Exchanging Christmas

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: CHRISTMAS

 

Exchanging Christmas

 

Let’s exchange Christmas

For a day to help the poor

Let’s gather all the kindness

For an end to every war

 

After all our needs are modest

There’s little more we need

Let’s exchange the happy holidays

For an end to corporate greed

 

We know money isn’t everything

But it’s something that we need

Instead of wrapping gifts in string

There are many mouths to feed

 

Let’s celebrate a day of giving

By helping others to survive

Let’s improve the lives we’re living

For we are blessed to be alive

 

Let’s exchange just one Christmas

To make the world a better place

To give the gift of kindness

To help all the human race

 

Peace & Love to All!

 

The Fall of Bolivar

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: LATIN AMERICA

 

The Fall of Bolivar

 

The last stand of Simon Bolivar

The father of Latin American democracy

The nation named in his honor

Home to the first indigenous president

Defender of democratic socialism

Fallen to the forces of capitalism

 

One wonders if democracy can survive

For capitalism so often prefers strongmen

 

That it has survived in the northern hemisphere

In western Europe and America

Gives proof that elements of socialism and

Capitalism can coexist with democracy

 

That democracy is so often threatened

In capitalist dominated countries

(a list that now include the United States)

Gives proof that the forces opposed to socialism

Are the forces opposed to democracy

 

The autocrats are lining up against us

Social democracy is at risk

Democracy itself is threatened

Bolivar has fallen but the fight goes on

The people must rise to find a way

 

(Rodrigo Paz elected president of Bolivia)