THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

 In nineteen seventy three hate burned down

the Upstairs Lounge in New Orleans. The French

Quarter lost thirty-two lives burned down,

down, down into hate-spawned martyrdom’s trench.

If we hate them and they live far away -

can we kill them and make them go away?

We can kill each and every one one day

and drone on and on every precious day

As the drums of destruction hammer on

as multitudes’ faiths and beliefs lean on,

all of our safety and welfares lean on

the cycle of destruction going on.

There is pain in some media spotlight

arguing who may be wrong and who right

and there is no peace in the Pulse of night,

no speeches forbidding displays of might

as though peace is a goal easy to leave

and life a treasure simple to retrieve.