AFTER READING JOSEPH ROTH'S THE HOTEL YEARS

by Alan Catlin

Pencil sketch by Michael D'Antuono.

Germany between world wars
Residue of failure and hate
diminished self-worth
Blame it on the minorities
Our country could be great again if
            there were no more:
                                                Jews
                                                Gypsies
                                                Homos
                                                Deformed
                                                Infirm
                                                Feeble minded
                                                Sick
                                                Non-Aryan
                                                                        people
Pander to the insecurities
The unemployed
Underemployed victims
of runaway inflation
worthless currencies
Hatred is the most powerful
the most effective motivator
Pander pander pander pander
Work the crowds until they are mobs
Then shout Kill Them All


Alan Catlin has published numerous chapbooks and full-length books of poetry and prose, the latest of which, from March Street Press, is Alien Nation.

NOTE TO THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS ONES

by LaWanda Walters

                              After James Merrill’s “Casual Wear”

We can see through your disguises.
It is nothing new to use the name of goodness
like it’s your accessory from Kate Spade.
These days you are young.  You follow a fad.

It is nothing new to use some name for goodness
as you end or maim someone’s being here.
So many of you are young.  This killing is a fad.
You chew and smack Muhammad’s name like a cud.

You end or maim someone who exists
while yelling some word that meant rain, forgiveness.
In your mouth that name's pink bubble gum,
is sugar, spit, preservative and dye.

You do not refer to kindness or rain.
What you mean is you are cool and in style,
blowing bubbles made of sugar and spit, blowing brains out.
There are others like you--other mobs and crowds--

who would hate my poem as much as you do.
You fit right in with those Americans
mouthing names like “Jesus” and “Christmas”
while they vote against those who can’t afford Kate Spade.


LaWanda Walters has had poems in Antioch Review, Georgia Review, Shenandoah, Ploughshares, Southern Poetry Review, Cincinnati Review, North American Review, Laurel Review, The New Verse News, Sou'wester, and other periodicals.  She lives in Cincinnati.