I says: Poem

Sure I says, go to war I says.

Let’s die for god and country I says.

For freedom and democracy

and the greater glory of our way of life.

Let us I says stand guard day and night protectors

of the grass in the front yard,

of our songs and theaters,

of the corporate towers,

of the fa?ade of the stock exchange,

of our highways and the fast food emporiums.

Let us put the berets on, shine our shoes,

polish our rifles, oil our machine guns,

smartly hail the generals and go to war.

But what is I asks our way of life?

What is the meaning of freedom and democracy?

What is it that is so great about us?

How comes I asks I has no job?

How comes I ain’t got no money?

How comes I ain’t got no food?

Why are the night fires burning in the barrels?

And why are so many of us sleeping on the sidewalks

under the canopy of cardboard boxes?

Why are there no hospitals and doctors to administer to us?

What is it I says we are really protecting?

“Shh” they tells me “shh.”

Why I not permitted to asks questions?