Tikkun

 By Aharon Shabtai

The horror
the dreadful disaster
disgrace
fractions of folly
dumb religion
obscurity of eyes
violent despair
won't repair, no officer
no bomb, no airplane
no more blood
heart-wisdom alone will repair
the physician alone will repair
the surgeon, the good teacher
the instructor alone will repair,
the medic, Arab, Jew, will amend
the calm traveller, the bike-rider
the sandwich carrier
crossing the street.
The one who opens the eyes will amend
The one who speaks in compassion
Will heal, the listener will amend,
The enlighted will amend,
awaiting and pausing will amend,
the guide in paths of generosity, of affection,
will amend, the painter will amend, the poet
will amend, disciples of peace will amend,
the gardeners of peace.

America is a Gun

By Brian Bilston

England is a cup of tea.
France, a wheel of ripened brie.
Greece, a short squat olive tree.
America is a gun.

Brazil is football in the sand.
Argentina, Maradona's hand.
Germany, an oompah band.
America is a gun.

Holland is a wooden shoe.
Hungary, a goulash stew.
Australia, a kangaroo.
America is a gun.

Japan is a thermal spring.
Scotland is a highland fling.
Oh, better to be anything
than America as a gun.

Words for You

By Ben Aragbaye

American history is mandatory
But black history is optional
Black literature a prop for show
Look at how they've accommodated
as we play along
With common outdated topics like
slavery doesn't exist, it's been
whited out
Well don't I feel liberated
But I don't know freedom
Freedom: Do you know me?
Am I important to you
or just an affirmative act?
Can I freely talk while still being black
and will you understand me
as I speak rhythmic words that beat, beat, beat
on your uncomfortable conscience?
Listen to me, Freedom,
because I have words for you
Black words
With a deep moan and tone
I will not atone for just existing
Words that are scarred, and whipped, and chained
only to break loose
with a strong hand and a fervent prayer
Words from the past, reverb,
bouncing off every corner. surrounding you
Words that are real
and cannot be whited out.
Because the color
The color always bleeds through.
Words with a history that is equal,
so please do not try and separate it.
I am not an option
I am concrete
I am finite
I am mandatory
You deserve to know me
You deserve to know Juneteenth
And I deserve to know freedom.

Hear the poet reading this poem here.