That is not the Question

The question is not if teargas breath thugs
weaponizing COVID; co-signing starvation;
stage whispering, “Lock her up!” ripping
children from mothers’ arms—splintering
families—will abandon their bunkers and
vacate the War House…

The question is when will the general strike
sprout wings, gliding cross country; and how
crammed Capitalist Hill and city streets get;
How surrounded the War House is—and for how
many days, weeks, months—years if necessary?

The question is not if assassins, coup plotters,
war profiteers plant themselves in perpetuity
in fertile soil of socialism…
The question is community clinics, postal
banking, solar panels, windmills—when—
And until we’ve boned up on restorative justice—
Terre Haute or Beaumont for Boss Tweet—

Former forklift driver/warehouse worker/janitor, Raymond Nat Turner is a NYC poet; BAR's Poet-in-Residence; and founder/co-leader of the jazz-poetry ensemble UpSurge!NYC. Read other articles by Raymond Nat, or visit Raymond Nat's website.