so why does the world hate us?
(and who is this “us” they hate?)
so what do you do now sweet poet, grin bullet teeth? hold out for pious
hugs based on the necessity of samaritan love? how can we denounce
the blindness of flag waving at terrorists we can’t see? the plans
of militarists to bring them afghans back dead or alive? the immobilizing
fear that the populace eats instead of airline cuisine? and the saintly
diatribes of ministers salivating at the chance to bless our bombs?
can a poem really promote peace without the grease of middle east
petroleum to oil the sophisticated wheels of our daily life? you want
me to say something profound, to propose a safe path through the
minefield of international intrigue where cowboys are hated
worse than rattlesnakes—well, partner it’s simple, either we rein in our government
or else we mossy along with the rest of the herd, stumbling in the dark
of our dearly beloved democratic ignorance, oblivious to our sins and
perpetually surprised that so much of the world hates our comfortable asses.
—kalamu ya salaam