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Saturday, May 30, 2020

BALTIMORE BURNING

  1.  
NOTE: "Baltimore Burning" is an encore presentation taken from my book of poems and short stories: Last Tango In Timbuktu. In light of recent events in America over the past few days, it seems an appropriate time to bring it back.


Unfortunately
meaningful social change
has always been accompanied
by great upheaval
and unrest

because


Unfortunately

polite entreaty
doesn't seem to effectively
 gain the attention of those
 entrenched in the
 arrogance of power

and


Unfortunately

from Bunker Hill
to Selma
to Kent State
to Watts
to Ferguson
to Baltimore
the pattern has always been the same

and


Unfortunately

when voices
(the voice of the people)
fall upon deaf ears
the decibel level must be increased
to a level that may cause sharp pain
in the eardrum
to a level that will make them turn
grimace
and glare at you
like an angry parent
and say at long last

ALRIGHT THEN...

WHAT THE FUCK IS IT YOU WANT?





37 comments:

  1. YES!!!!!! EXACTLY! This is brilliant. Would you please send it to the New York Times and every other big newspaper in the world?

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    1. Now that you mention it, maybe I will. THANKS, SHERRY!

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  2. I think they may want their people not to be continually killed by the police...I know....people are just so demanding these days.

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  3. __I refer to them as "Fiction, Predictions." Novels that have now reached an age, where their fiction has become real, too many to mention. I say: "the first lie, is the last truth."
    __If we proceed without caution, for ALL people, we will generate our own "police state;" unless we quickly return to our civil rites. [rights]
    _m

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    1. Isn't it strange, Doug, that the slaves were freed in the 19th century, yet we had segregation in the 20th century...the Civil Rights Act was passed in the 20th century, and we still have blatant infringement of civil rights in the 21st century. "The more things change the more they stay the same."

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  4. Agreed with Sherry, it should be given to all the newspapers worldwide..!
    Raise your voice through this wonderful poem :D
    xoxo

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  5. when the carrot dosn't result; SHOUT

    much love...

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  6. Ah.. when we shout .. the only reaction is that they glare on us.. alas, no winners.

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    1. We see signs of change in the wind here in the U.S., but it's been a long time coming and a lot of shouting.

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  7. Yes, absolutely! (And what a pity that's the way of it.) That ending encapsulates it beautifully.

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  8. tragic that's what it takes but too true!

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  9. Such a topical issue at present when it seems people are taking to the streets the world over in protest at the complacency of government - sometimes, for the worse though with destruction of property and loss of life.

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  10. Sometimes you just struggle to get their attention. The Boston Tea party worked. Jesus and the money lenders worked. Polite entreaties have seldom moved the entrenched & entitled.

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    Replies
    1. All true. It remains to be seen if real change will take place this time.

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  11. There are a few countries that do get governance right but I won't tell you which ones they are otherwise you may come running and bring all your bad habits with you.

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    1. Ha ha...yes, let's follow America's lead and ban all immigration!

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  12. Rings with the repeating events--when the whisper doesn't work, the shout may.

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    1. Too bad it has to be that way because of the ensuing collateral damage that we are now witnessing.

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  13. I am weary. Losing hope. Running out of time.

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    1. Time we can do nothing about, but staying strong within ourselves, that we can control. All best to you.

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  14. Unfortunately
    polite entreaty
    doesn't seem to effectively
    gain the attention of those
    entrenched in the
    arrogance of power

    So true!
    Stay safe!

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    1. Thank you, Kerry. I believe that the decibel level has been turned sufficiently high this time. Makes it hard for them to turn a deaf ear.

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  16. I think the shooting of innocent protesters isn't so far off. Thanks for your awareness.

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    1. Wouldn't be the first time. Some of us still remember Kent State.

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  17. The what-do-want question hasn't been asked yet. Time to increase the volume.

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    1. True, but my ears are already splitting :)

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