American Distress Signal

observe

When I
was 10 years old
I was dehumanized
they said
humans live 72 years
but I
was only given 25

So this
was the conclusion
to which
I arrived

By 2005
I will have died
and if
I've survived
I'd be up north
doing a bid for 25

And I dont understand
If you can relate
but being born
with an expiration date
tends to f**k
with your
mental state

Now the voice
of rationality speaks
and I just cant see

How it can be
that I can get shot
down in my own streets
by a "G"
from the same hood
as me

Or how
it is the legal right
of some vigilante type
to shoot me down
at night
cause we all
look alike

No chalk
No yellow tape
Im like wait
Audio tapes
A bunch of hate
and still
A lot of red tape

See...
when Politicians
say the govt
is too big
I think of a state
where its safe
for bigots
to murder kids

And imagine
how much hate
would circulate
without Federal
mandates

We are all God's Children
9-11 Said we'd never forget
I guess we did

Dont let it happen again.....

Author's Note

Non Artistic rant

Reviews

[Hippy]

i think it seems cool your mind seems to wonder on all the related topics which is ineteresting. and i like the words you just kind of make up but have oblvious meaning such as govt, obviously to govern but it is cool, nice touchon personal style i say

[.]

-- i wouldn't call this a "rant"... and for me... this is definitely artistic work... -- bigotry is reaching new heights in india these days... -- a man was lynched by a mob very close to where i live because of a nasty rumour that there was beef in his refrigderator... -- three rationalists were murdered in the past one year or so mostly likely by fundamentalists... -- writers are returning their awards to protest... and bigots are questioning their motives... -- i think that everywhere in the world today, bigotry is rampant and destroying the very essence of civilization... and i also think that most governments are too incompetent to even begin to deal with the situation...

-- excellent work, R. ...

[writing mojo]

such a connection of verse
fates rated in the timing
your words set to mandate...good stuff

[Soulfulbubbles]

love your rant, I like the topic and it starts strong and ends strong, i enjoyed reading it out loud. I have a few of the stanzas/paragraphs stuck echoing in my head.


thanks for sharing it.


-kas

[Stabitha]

This is brilliant.

[...]

. i beg to differ ... super artistic super powerful rant ... the atmosphere is much the same here ... rational thoughts have been abandoned in favour of rhetoric ... and most often ... it's the rhetoric of hate ...

[Ruth]

I think this is a write of extreme empathy and I feel the yearning for peace...whatever our beliefs of how 9/11 happened, one thing remains and shall always resonate - we are all equal!
Great write love
xoxo

[*~*Butterfly Kisses*~*]

I love the bitter and harsh reality of this piece. I could go on rambling on and on but I would be here all day. Anyways, loved this write! Nicely done!

[Coyote Poetry]

I will never understand why a neighborhood watch would have a gun. Un-skilled men with guns are dangerous. We train for months in the military when to use a weapon. Many people made mistakes with this young man in Forida. Three week ago in Detroit. Nine 16 year and under were murdered in the city of Detroit in one day. A lot of hidden problems in the USA. Kids need jobs and opportunity. Thank you for the rant. Made me think.
' Coyote

[Audrey Howitt]

Rant on--I think you are right!