be complicit in
genocide
humanitarian
Aaron Bushnell
did incredible work
for various mutual aid
and unhoused coalitions
spent every penny
and second
serving his community
living anarchist principles
developed
deep friendships
with people living in the
encampments
buying them blankets, sweaters and snacks
gave his cat to his neighbor
gave his savings to Palestinian
children
should any survive
talented USAF IT
for one of history’s
most enthusiastically genocidal
nations
engulfed in flames
flesh sizzling
preset camera recording
because 2 months earlier
a different fiery extreme protest
cancelled trivialized diminished erased
suppressed
cynical Western society
rigidly unable to comprehend
sacrifice to a cause
greater than
oneself
policeman gun drawn
repeatedly yelling
“Get on the ground”
before he collapsed
vividly demonstrating
ironically embodying the mindset
Bushnell
protested
slumbering complicit people
he chose to burn
for thousands burnt
without a choice
“it is done to wake us up”
said Thich Nach Hanh
offering the body
as a torch
to dissipate
the dark
“Free Palestine”
he screamed
a voice of flame
his words are fire
remember his name
he said
“This is what
our ruling class
has decided will be
normal”
maintenance required
light on
try a new garage
small shop indie
no real waiting room
5 chairs & cashier’s desk
flat screen soccer
mechanics watch monitors in the shop
women’s US vs England
old & newer air conditioners
& ceiling fan blow
warmed cooled air
around 8x8 space
phones ring & are answered
I block it with ipod
earphone jazz
Jimmy & Wes now
reread Hunter Thompson
SF Herald Examiner columns
I read new
chronicling
Reagan’s ugly demise
corrupt inept overt
greed driven
stupidity
so familiar
still
no memory mind americans
embrace
being robbed
poisoned
enthusiastically
sucked dry
exceptionally
incapable
of understanding
their insignificance
murdering the world
the last taboo
peace is the final obscenity
peace is the last humiliation
peace is not on the table
peace receives no serious
consideration
peace is not an option
peace is a waste of everyone’s
time
peace is a refuge of the naive
peace doesn’t
make the right people rich
peace must be heavily censored
peace won’t
sell
peace obstructs greed
peace undermines fear as a weapon of
social control
peace unemploys special forces
peace stinks up the room
peace misses the point
peace ruins the plot
peace won’t work because of someone
else
peace threatens enforced economic and
social disorder
peace gets low ratings
peace gets bad reviews
peace won’t prop up a dead currency
peace looks stupid in a uniform
peace needs a marketing plan
peace remains out of reach
peace could crash the internet
peace endangers capitalism
peace creates uncomfortable silences
peace redistributes wealth
peace exposes stupid sadistic bullies
peace lacks ambition
peace can’t loot the treasury
peace requires more courage than war
peace infuriates the already angry
peace didn’t make the survey
peace raises eyebrows
peace makes you check the time
peace won’t get corporate sponsorship
peace ends entitlement
peace requires your full attention
peace bores the gossip industry
peace can’t compete with cultural myth
peace can’t hitch a ride
peace can’t get a like
peace makes the wholesale slaughter of
brown people seem so psychotic
peace can’t eradicate species
peace feels like it’s being ignored
peace asks the wrong questions
peace means mental illness in a
militaristic culture
peace gets labeled a traitor
peace beheads barbarism and savagery
peace can’t get a fair hearing
peace lost control of the narrative
peace can’t get booked on a news show
panel
peace suspends relations with
obliterating idiocy
peace can’t be serious
peace never gets invited to peace
conferences
peace won’t trade on Wall Street
peace can’t afford to bankroll
Hollywood propaganda empires
peace can’t make itself heard over the
ear shattering wargasms
peace won’t be born of bombs
peace taken off life support still
breathes
peace is our only future