The Art of Slaying the Hype Machine
Poem Eight ~ From a Stuffed Toy
Don’t worry little child,
hush now.
Take my soft hand and
leave now.
Please be quiet or else
they’ll hear now.
But I promise by morning
we’ll be safe now.
My Inner City Classroom Pantoun
‘Round and ‘round the hatred goes
by day in the classroom, at night on the news
how or why it starts, nobody ever knows
even when it’s personal, haters seem confused
by day in the classroom, at night on the news
verbally, physically, my students are at odds
even when it’s personal, haters seem confused
ironic in their justifying, hiding behind their gods
verbally, physically, my students are at odds
they take no pains to hide their actions
ironic in their justifying, hiding behind their gods
proclaiming his protection even in fatal interactions
I intervene, negotiate – counsel when I can
verbally, physically, my students are at odds
no matter what I say to them I’m just teacher-man
ironic in their justifying, hiding behind their gods
– Mark L. Lucker
© 2016
Prompt 7 – New Age Angst
New age angst in a time
When things go so badly that
There’s not even someone to blame
Because the only one you can blame
Is yourself
Is it not your fault that you cannot do
As others around you can do?
That it is obviously not so easy
To escape the voice
In your head
Telling you that it is
Because you are dysfunctional
Because you are wrong
Because you are not enough
Because you are not amounting to
Expectations I have set for you
Only because I care
You know very well I only want so much
Because I love you so much
Please understand
It is not your fault
But still you must blame yourself
Because it is your nature
Because it is what the voice tells you
I say to you
When you cannot understand
What I mean.
Winner
The start is always tough
Te rime is not enough
To achieve, you have to cry
Its not something else
You must at least try
Saying things are easy
Doing them needs
courage
patience
Will
And soul
A Boat of Glue
A child built a boat To race to his island
Yes, to race to his island
The child made a boat of glue
To race to his island
Made of paper mache
The child made a boat of glue
The boat sailed away
Made of paper mache
A child built a boat
The boat sailed away
Yes, to race to his island
Under a Tree
I sat on a bench under a naked tree,
Dried leaves clinging to the branches,
Others fallen to a place they’d rather be,
I sat in the center watching,
Dried leaves clinging to the branches,
Shade in stick figure fragments upon the ground,
I sat in the center watching,
A breeze filtering through my hair,
Shade in stick figured fragments upon the ground,
I re-traveled my life through moments of sadness,
A breeze filtering through my hair,
Were these moments worth remembering?
I re-traveled my life through moments of sadness,
Loss that preceded the brinks of madness,
Were these moments worth remembering?
Day dreaming broken by a rustle,
Loss that preceded the brinks of madness,
A hard fought struggle to overcome
Day dreaming broke by a rustle,
A squirrel appeared out of nowhere,
A hard fought struggle to overcome,
Scattered dreams still attainable,
A squirrel appeared out of nowhere,
I welcomed her to sit with me on the bench.
Represent Who? (A Pantoum)
It’s no surprise they’re all criminals
Did you really think they’d let someone honest win?
Are you tired of voting for evil as representative?
Does it reflect the system or the culture?
Did you really think they’d let someone honest win?
Are you so indoctrinated you don’t see the ruse?
Does it reflect the system or the culture?
Any choice you make, the people still suffer
Are you so indoctrinated you don’t see the ruse?
The election a selection by and for the elite
Any choice you make, the people still suffer
Our dreams will never fit in their ballot boxes
The election a selection by and for the elite
Where are the politicians with calluses on their hands?
Our dreams will never fit in their ballot boxes
No one man or woman can ever represent the masses
Where are the politicians with calluses on their hands?
Why aren’t the starving artists represented?
No one man or woman can ever represent the masses
I guess that’s the answer to the question
Why aren’t the starving artists represented?
Government seems to think self-expression is unimportant
I guess that’s the answer to the question
If we all just act alike, it’s easier to control
Government seems to think self-expression is unimportant
Thats another way of saying don’t question what they do
If we all just act alike, it’s easier to control
But if we’re all acting the same, these politicians represent…who?
It Has To Dawn On You (Hour Eight)
I am waiting, eternity upon eternity,
For signs of your remorse.
It has to dawn on you eventually,
Because we are all expanding in our empathy.
For signs of your remorse
I grow impatient, and hate-filled.
Because we are all expanding in our empathy,
I cut you some slack, turning again to compassion.
I grow impatient, and hate-filled.
I am waiting, eternity upon eternity,
I cut you some slack, turning again to compassion.
It has to dawn on you eventually.
Pride…
I looked into his eyes & could see his pain… When I realized, I was the one to cause that hurt… He accepted me, & the guard was let down…