On Obama’s Philadelphia Speech: On Compass Points<\/p>\n
God damn America
\nGod damn America, the reverend Wright said, fiery and
\nmeasured to the workings of the world.
\nGod damn America, his soul snared to a hate-taut tether,
\nshocking us with the fruits of black reality.<\/p>\n
Did you think old men still heal?
\nDo you depend on reptilian regeneration?<\/p>\n
The maimed and heart-sick elude redemption in times as these, dear friend.
\nLocked in absolutes,
\ntrading soul’s ascension for 1’s and 0’s,
\na Red Scare reissued in classic Black and White.<\/p>\n
God damn America, what are you afraid of?
\nI know it can’t be hatred, for I’ve seen your late night hobbies.
\nIt’s complexity that frightens \u2013
\nthe ship sailing free of its bottle.<\/p>\n
But the world is a complex place, dear friend,
\nfor those that wish to view it.
\nSome don their hate like wrestlers capes,
\nwhile others in lottery drew it.
\nSome hum along lightly to Hate’s handsome tune,
\nhypnotic in broad thoughtless flow.
\nThen retractions precisely as jingles still linger \u2013
\nto quote, “Not as far as I know.”<\/p>\n
Some see hate strange-like, abstract and in hues.
\nIn visions of dominoes lined up in pews.
\nOf rusty nailed boardwalks and tetanus feared beach bans,
\nrobbing the nation of truths found in sun tans.
\nThe burden of vision falls hard on the freckled.
\nThey preach to land dwellers of sea treasures speckled.<\/p>\n
America, the understanding I have is that we’re lazy and fat.
\nWe have no grasp of foreign languages
\nand our knowledge of the tabloids is unhealthy.
\nI found myself in a debate today
\nwith a woman we’ll call light switch.
\nShe told me that if anything,
\nthe blacks were the racist one’s in this country,
\nthen she turned to feed her mother pudding.<\/p>\n
I can’t spot the delta, dear friend,
\nbut I know the river runs far.
\nBottles bob forever downstream.
\nShips move free with the stars.<\/p>\n
[audio:http:\/\/www.mikevarley.com\/old\/words\/MikeVarley.com On Obama’s Philadelphia Speech.mp3]<\/p>\n\t\t