Poetry Reading

Untitled
Scream it from the mountain top
And whisper it in the ears of babes
Read it in a voice as proud As Lincoln
when he freed the slaves
Four score and several lifetimes ago
Darkness covered the earth
Hiding the truth behind its veils
And allowing its lies to give birth
Deceptive demons slithered to life
And wormed into the hearts
Of otherwise good and honest men
And seized control of their parts
So with one hand they signed for freedom
And the other they bought slaves
With one eye turned Heavenward
The other looked into graves
With one kiss they showed their wives
How a compliment can be paid
With a second one they turned to violence
And raped their negro maid
They'd sing God's hymns on Sunday
Before beating a man to death
Like what they did on one day
Had no bearing on the next

If all men are created equally
How did they get indian lands
How did they get from liberty
To African blood on our hands
The history of this great nation
And, yes, I believe it's great
Has somehow used visionaries
To plant the seeds of hate
Cunning manipulations
Of facts and truths and lies
Has somehow lulled us away
And bid us to close our eyes
Now few can see the trend continues
Even to this very day
We all have freedom of speech
Depending on what you say
College students with flowers
Were killed by soldiers' fire
Right here where we make our homes
Turning Jefferson into a liar

Now our president uses pretty words
To entice our citizens to go off and kill
The very same rhetoric that General Grant used
To give his men a thrill
You're fighting for liberty and democracy
You're fighting for freedom for all
And because the enemy doesn't know what's good for them
A few of you will fall
Now we're past two thousand and counting
And there's no end in sight
He's just asked for more money
To continue imposing his might

The politicians are still lying to the people
And good free men are being jailed
After so long why can't we succeed
Where our forefathers failed?
By Corey Borders

I went to the Columbus Music Hall with my brother last night to see the Writer's Block Poetry Slam. It was so wonderful to hear so much passion and expression. I was among artists and I felt at home...until they asked me to be a judge. Then I began to sweat a little. It was all good. But that is a bit of a pressure situation. It's not even anonymous. The poets read and then you hold up a number. I was asked to judge on my personal reaction the the pieces. These are some brave souls who share their art and souls and wait to be judged. I admire them all. I am proud to see artists putting their work out there and standing by it proudly. I must say that I am also thrilled to see that there is something like this going on in Columbus.

So, my brother didn't read. But his friend Corey did. The poem above is what he read. I had to share. I hope he doesn't mind. I was moved by his words and I think many of you will be as well. I encourage anyone to check out this poetry event that is happening on the first and third Thursday of the month. These are not a bunch of hacks. There are some beautiful artists performing and doing their thing and taking it very seriously. http://www.wideopenwest.com/~efavers0976/OPENMIC_front.htm