Back in my little town
I never knew
a truly crazy person
back in my little town
there was the town bully
the town slut
the town eccentric
all harmless cartoon figures now
in a land obsessed
with violence
and war
just turn on the TV
and there he is
it's the same guy
DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?
it's the SAME guy
day and night
night and day
spraying bullets
dealing indiscriminate death
tune in at eight tonight
to see him again
we've created him
and glorified him
with our dollars
plunked down at the movie theater
we've created him
with a power structure
that assures young people
it's okay
to kill for your country
but only at OUR direction
don't come back here
and try that shit
on your own
is it any wonder that
some get confused
and get it turned around
you know
you are already too far gone
when you pull that trigger
when you are just following orders
all insanity
of the highest order
the inmates
running the asylum
inciting us daily
from podiums
and radios blaring
the politics of division
and hatred
a nation coming apart
from within
fueled by excess
and greed
glowingly referred to as
The American Dream
yeah
just another mentally unbalanced dude
spraying lead at a shopping center
they said he was cold
emotionless
desensitized
as he went about his business
as everyone asks
WHO created him
and somewhere in the background
Michael Jackson sings
time to look at
the man in the mirror
Signs of the times. A strong, serious piece, Timoteo!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! This is so right-on! So true! So powerful! Absolutely wonderful. I wish every newspaper in North America would print it. "Time to look at the man in the mirror." Fantastic writing!
ReplyDeletetime to look at the man in the mirror....
ReplyDeletelove the ending line.
so perfect flow, lovely portrayal of your male character...
Thanks for sharing!
A++
Bravo, Timoteo.
ReplyDeleteVery well said. You are so right!
ReplyDeleteWow, that's spot on! Kudos.
ReplyDeleteWonderful and so on for what has taken place!! I have been worried about you!! Glad to see you are okay!!!So sorry for what your town is going thru!! Much love to you!!! Cindy
ReplyDeleteHopefully J. D. Salinger will not be part of this one.
ReplyDeleteExcellent Tim, excellent....I bought a book yesterday, some 600 pages for 25 cents, Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf, I never knew that Mein Kampf was so long, see I only had a brief reading of a book form the university, a few pages only..now finally I get to see where the seed of madness started...
ReplyDeleteThis poem is so true, and in light of the recent event in Tucson, it is so opportune.
ReplyDeleteI'm visiting from Poets United. Glad to meet you. I really enjoy your poetry.
snap...straight on man, in your own kinda style...great one shot...
ReplyDeleteoh my friend, this should be on the news...this should be read and re-read on radio across our nation, around the world...as a culture we are all responsible for this...as a culture we are all responsible to end this...some how...I think listening (as opposed to assuming/presuming/prejudging) Yes, listening kindly, would be a good place to begin.
ReplyDeleteYou've definitely got this right. Excellent!
ReplyDeleteSince you've seen what I had to say on the subject, you know I'm in total agreement. This man was created and then enabled by the manipulators, and by our own inability to tune them out. An excellent piece, and my heart goes out to your town--I'm in Oklahoma City, so I do know what it's like to have the bad-enough, horrible event, followed by the worse 24/7 coverage of it everywhere you look. You have some fine people in Tucson, though. Your sheriff, for one, and all the others who stepped up at the scene.
ReplyDeleteW.O.W!!! That was one tight read! And so very meaningful! We are THE ONLY source of every human beast ever born! If only there was an easier way to turn it all back.. (sigh)
ReplyDeleteThis was an eye opener of a poem... too good!!!
The wordplay really drove the point home!!
whoa...good commentary on our culture today. Some things just don't add up in this splintered world of ours.
ReplyDeletewow - you are so right - almost forget to breathe reading your poem timoteo. we all have to look into this mirror i guess
ReplyDeleteHelluva statement you made through your art. Also reminds me of kids confused by all that they see——leading to school shootings, out of control bullying. Cheers, Timoteo
ReplyDeleteWow, Tim. For once, I have no witty remark. I'm just thinking a lot about where we're going.
ReplyDeleteHi Timoteo
ReplyDeleteIts a great shake... I liked it.
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com
Twitter @VerseEveryDay
MUCHAS GRACIAS: Eric, Sherry, Jingle, Annell, Mary, Buguloo, Lorraine, Myrna, Brian, Laura X, Teresa, Hedgewitch, Kavita, Jerry, Claudia, Dustus, Kobico, Shashi...for your insightful comments!
ReplyDeleteHats off to you on this one... we (our society) are so caught up in ourselves, in fighting the fight, in protecting the American Dream, that we forget to look around us, to notice those right here in need.
ReplyDeleteSo true! You need to get this one out for more to see even though people hate the truth. They would rather blame and point a finger then admit fault. Shit they might have to change. Great job!
ReplyDeleteEffective flow-rant, clearly necessary.
ReplyDeleteHi Timoteo
ReplyDeleteBeautifully you brought the man in the mirror.. I liked this sweet verse... thanks for sharing...
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com
Twitter: @VerseEveryDay
Yes...we are all responsible, or irresponsible. Being in the 'animal care field' I see irresponsibility...kids act out, their pets act out, the parents can't cope, the animals can't cope, the kids can't cope.
ReplyDeleteI try and end my day helping someone take the best care of their cats...their kids? wish there was someone there for them...
REFLECTIONS, RIVER, STEVE, SHASHI, TERI: Powerful comments...I thank you for them!
ReplyDelete