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AI-generated graphic by NightCafé for The New Verse News. |
“I’m throwing a Party,” the Mad Hater decreed,
“And it’s only for those of Certain High Breed.
The workers and riff-raff will not be allowed
We’ll clear this Great Land of such unwanted crowds.
We’ll send them all packing to back where they came
And build big border walls in Liberty’s name.”
He wanted the people meek and afraid,
Instead they came chanting and dancing, they prayed.
They flocked to the aid of their neighbors and friends,
They poured through the streets, angry crowds without end.
“Criminals!” the Mad Hater shouted with venom,
“Violent assassins, we’re going to get ‘em!”
He called out his proud boys, his goons and his gnome,
Said, “Smash their car windows, crash into their homes.
You’re breaking no laws if you do what I say,
My Words are the only Law you must obey.
But these people with cameras and signs in their hands
Are the worst of the worst, destroying our Land.
Arresting them all is how we stay Free,
Anyone is a traitor who doesn’t agree!”
The people still came with their banners and songs,
Would not be defeated, they knew right from wrong.
Then, “Off with their masks!” the large crowd declared,
“Let’s see why these big men are so terribly scared
Of children and mothers and men holding phones,
It makes them all trembly right down to their bones.
Their pepper and guns are no match for such threats
As inflatable frogs and knitters in sweats,
And pink dancing sharks and sweet unicorns,
And kids banging drums and blowing on horns!”
With all this distraction, this hullaballoo,
The Hater was pleased by something he knew.
He rubbed his small hands and gave a sly smile,
“At least they’ve forgotten about those damn Files!”
Lisa Shulman is a poet, children’s book author, and teacher. Her poetry has appeared in Sheila-na-gig, About Place, Anacapa Review, Inkfish, Kitchen Table Quarterly, ONE ART, The New Verse News, and elsewhere. She is the author of the poetry chapbook Fragile Bones, Fierce Heart. A Pushcart nominee, Lisa teaches poetry with California Poets in the Schools, and workshops for women in recovery.
“Laws grind the poor and rich men rule the law”
— Oliver Goldsmith
“What does the Tao have to do with anything? Are you kidding?”
Epstein-class—pedophile protectors—RICCO racketeers agree
to pee on survivors. Deploy entire capitalist state apparatus coming
at us: D. C., Cali, Chicago, Pacific, Caribbean, Canada, Greenland!
Depends on nothing, does not change
operates everywhere, free from danger
Mother- of the universe—We didn’t have
a name for it—but she called it the Tao.
Keeps to the Mother- fed by the Mother-
source of all being; life and death are the
same—We didn’t have
a name for it—but she called it the Tao.
Multiple meanings include ‘way,’ ‘path,’ ‘road,’
‘doctrine,’ ‘principle.’ Undifferentiated, yet complete.
soundless, formless, existing before heaven and earth—
We didn’t have a name for it—but she called it the Tao.
Kamikaze pilot crashing into committee hearing—burn
book in hand. Firing triggering rounds at survivors’ scars;
bootlicking, brown-nosing, on behalf of apex predators—
We didn’t have a name for it—but she called it the Tao.
Talentless student of Theatre of the Absurd, contesting every word—
stonewalling, gaslighting, sowing wild quotes, burn book notes at
child scapegoats, like secondhand smoke—
We didn’t have a name for it—but she called it the Tao.
Ball-less Roy Cohn. Consigliere believing JD’s Junkyard Dog,
rather than Juris Doctor. Degree granted by corrupt, defunct
university of sole client?—We didn’t have a name for it—
but she called it the Tao.
What does it take to get a disbarment date in the Sunshine State?
Empire State disbarred J6-inciter, election worker-harasser, Count
Ghouliani. Golden State disbarred loony theorist, J6-agitator and
former Thom-ass Clarence law clerk, Eastman … And some say
MAGA means Make Attorneys Go Away—
We didn’t have a name for it—but she called it the Tao.
Raymond Nat Turner is a NYC poet; Black Agenda Report's Poet-in-Residence; and founder/co-leader of the jazz-poetry ensemble UpSurge!NYC.
