Flashbacks of Wild Boers storming Capitalist Hill

You may think you saw
Soldiers from confederate-christened bases—
white supremacist spaces— Cops from as
far away as LA—Armed with hockey sticks,
crutches and bear spray; Baseball bats/brass
knuckles: Wrestling hands of the clock back
to the ‘50s—1850s—
Fighting fiercely for skyscrapers snuggled next
to tents—cardboard mattresses below condos.

You may think you saw
Soldiers from confederate-christened bases—
white supremacist spaces— Cops from as
far away as LA—Armed with hockey sticks,
crutches and bear spray; Baseball bats/brass
knuckles: Battling for plastic oceans slicked with
Oil; leaden drinking water; unbreathable air;
bullhorn bellies/Franken ‘food’ cornucopia; Texas
Taliban teachers teaching Fox-box false consciousness

But, women, men, children of the world—
Rest assured it was just a “normal tourist visit—”
“legitimate political discourse.”
So, don’t chant, “Yankee, go home!!!”

Don’t whisper, “ugly Americans” at it again. “It’s not who
we are…“ “We’re better than this” red, white, blue through
line: Sand Creek to San Antonio; Wounded Knee to Buffalo;
Mother Emanuel to Uvalde; Nagasaki to Pulse Nightclub…

“We’re better than” transferring power—Ford Theater ballot—
back of Lincoln’s head. Better than Dallas ballots—ruby
results on 1st Lady’s pink dress. Better than Audubon Ball-
room/Lorraine Motel balcony ballots transferring Black Power
To desperate dances in donkey dung—every 2-4 years…

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.