you can do it? More on that later,

you conduit, you moron that later

could start school, and waste it

learned the bad thing, you

speak flows that spit in verses,

thrust wasted into

cold starting engines, startling that it fails

its cool speed grows, splitting off to

your likes – introverts

or just repeats the cycle

inspection, in brushless strokes

lamenting beauty causing action

and that the inverse isn’t true

peasant-king’s well, declares his better stock

touts: bell rings pleasant, stings the followers:

sheep shrieks, slacking

flares uptown tensions, inequality

found a stout new deal

in hollows

foundling

new religion yields

inherited, hallowed

ground spews sacrilege

pensioned out to killing fields

what you knew, resistance

flowed out nudely,

sheared minds freak

to listen in virginal new

doubt, error

grows and glowing

flash

we see it, know its exposure

electrified terrifically

in sudden terror

there will be no charges –

battery works

talked out, interrogate

foolishly time for

violence

supposedly, easy

to say

fool-official

fished us in til someone’s bleating,

sacrificial lamb that’s on the ground and

shut slammed up and

bled out from the beating

slut shamed, cut, delivered for the feeding

(and you eat)

we’d thought the gains were set in stone

but they’re still watching, biding time

to treat the sub-group differently as

songs are silenced

solaced into now, with

only hushed unpleasant words but

it wasn’t always like that

Our persecuted people once smote down

our enemies

we’ll rise again

wresting power from the mighty

if we can slay the

intolerant murderous bastards

when our chance comes we can get that done

because we’ll never be like them

you’ll see with your own vision

when you follow us, we’re

far better than the last guys

our struggles have sanctified us into

perpetual protagonism, rest assured

We can do it.

Sam was born in Canada, and lives in the US as a retired physician & part-time writer. He enjoys rowing, hiking, amateur photography, jeeps, reading, writing, travel, oxford commas, and especially family. He's had over 40 publications so far of his poetry & short prose, plus several scientific articles. Preferred topics include nature, existence, social justice, emotion, heritage... He’s been a finalist in writing contests from Vallum, Iron Horse, Sand Hills, Cairde Sligo Arts Festival, and others. Facebook readings: Sam Kaspar the writer @MightySamster