after Bob Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody”
 |
| BBC, September 14, 2026 |
Here you are handing out PTSD like candy
What parts of you were left in the dog crate that
you stuffed Immigrants in
Who speak only english, have all American children,
Who don't know english, have no one,
Maybe a shopkeeper, a mechanic, a computer whiz
Maybe a housekeeper, a dog sitter, a nursing aide
Maybe a fast food worker, a grocery clerk, a good friend
Maybe a Christian, a Muslim, an atheist, a Jew
Maybe a teacher, a paramedic, a soldier, a leader
Maybe a mother, a father, a brother, a sister
Maybe a child
You gotta learn,
You gotta ask,
You gotta pray,
You gotta love.
Joey Whitton was born on the East Coast, raised on the West Coast, and now lives in the Deep South. Hardcore punk has inspired him for decades. His poetry is forthcoming in Heavy Feather Review, Neologism Poetry Journal, and Double Dutch Magazine and has appeared in Flipside Magazine, Misfit Magazine, Sky Island Journal, Poetry Pacific, The Broken Teacup, Trashlight Press, and BlazeVOX Journal.