Blacksburg

A rap poem composed shortly after the Virginia Tech shooting. Some thought this in bad taste to be rhyming and posted so soon after. Others disagreed. Was a featured poem.

 

Blacksburg

 

Blacksburg’s black day

made the network’s bonanza

as every anchor, some with rancor

painted pictures of blood stained walls,

burial halls that were classrooms,

death angel in silence, in gloom

saw no mark to pass over,

no four leaf clover.

Luck runs out as we shout

for splattered students,

Holocaust prof heroes,

students launching out windows,

as we set out our scapegoat -

some administration’s decisions

our news nose turned up in derision

with news of the hour upon hour,

glad the shooter was dead

and the devil in his head

that no one knows or says

where it came or where it went, the man was bent

and so many knew it, construed it,

brought their frightened minds to it,

saw the hate but just wait

till all exploded, his Glocks loaded.

 

The way of the news is to shout it all out,

the pitch high as a kite while we ignite

with the thrill of the moment the second the hour.

We feel the power of events as they blast them.

Just ask them

so we know what to think and rethink,

know what’s the news and the old

don’t care what grows mold or turns sour,

mundane or profane it won’t matter,

our thoughts soon scatter.

Thirty-three in one place is a lot.

That’s what’s hot when there’s no war at home,

no street drugs or crime, HIV’s out of time.

There’s no starvation indignation,

no deaths on the roads from drinking

from driving, no conniving

to steal from the middle or poor,

show them the door as wealth

rules the day, pays its way

into power. We won’t even glower,

Watch the news as we’re told to

our brave new world view.

One nine eight four has the floor

as we can’t even think

from the stench on the brink.

Wrongful death is what sells,

like Kismet in Hell

if it’s packaged just right

evil rules all day and all night.

  

David P. Eckert

Reviews

[[untitled]]

I liked the beginning of this a lot David but don't really think a debate about the shootings is really appropriate right now by anyone but the media. The massacre is still so fresh on the consciousness of society, including me who happens to be a college student. I cringe at seeing photos, and unfortunately could not finish your poem.

[R George]

Wrongful death is what sells....well put my friend. Well put. I was just watching the shooter's video before I read this.

well done. I envy you so.

[Otto L.n. Pipgras]

'shaken' is for suckers and wannabe 007'sand bacon is not just for breakfast anymoreThe rhyme is appropriate to set up the sense of turning this whole ugly business into just another follow-the-bouncing-ball headline scroll of death toll calisthenics, all for the purpose of selling Michelin tires and hip-hugger Pampers to the desensitized happy campers hooked up to the outlets of a television landscape...some people never grasp the concept of roughing it, and some just can't go camping without a satelite dish...solid write, David...props to you

[Tamela J. Gordon]

I can't thank you enough for writing this. It's so true. I was surprised that you rhymed; not used to seeing you do that. I dug it though.

Thirty-three in one place is a lot.
That�s what�s hot when there�s no war at home,
no street drugs or crime, no AIDS at this time.
There�s no starvation indignation,
no deaths on the roads from drinking
from driving, no conniving
to steal from the middle or poor,
show them the door as wealth
rules the day, pays its way
into power.

This was absolutely brilliant. I have no criticism to offer on this piece.

It's sincerely unfortunate that there are those who are still too shaken to really grasp the point of this piece. The poignance and relevance of this is palpable. I honestly don't uderstand how it could be deemed inappropriate to write about something that smacks you in the face from the time you get up until the time you drift off. I've read the reviews from those that feel this is inappropriate. Would it be more appropriate if you were reading this from behind a news desk?

[Krystal Waters]

You got it! There is nothing more to listen too expect for American Idol after we hear the news about the shooting and how many died. In depth views of students, the ones who were in the room, first hand news. No, they didn't ask who wasn't there but on campus. And the American people have only this type of news that our children see to make a copy of what happened, when it happens next time. Starts with high school, now it's on college campus... is the evil going to start in the work place? We already heard "Going Postal" The stress of this world... makes people snap. The next step will take away the guns! This only leads to putting the guns in the hands of the criminals, without protection for the innocent. Government will get in volved, "Thought Control" all is suspect. Words said will be complicated, turned and twisted so that even the meek will become the next possible gun man.

There isn't any resolve to this because this is what society has made. Kids growing up in homes they don't call home only to be picked up to go to their own home, after the parents come and pick them up and only see them for three hours or so and to bed.

Very sad state of affairs... and I think you did a great job writing this too. Descriptive and right to the point. Thank you for sending this to me.
Kristine

[Barry S. Maltese]

Nice job. This one reads just like a rap song. Kind of appropriate for this kind of theme.You painfully cover the details well. The angst of the ocassion saturates your words."glad the shooter was dead and the devil in his head that no one knows or says "where it came or where it went, the man was bent Your words hit their mark, like the painful acuracy of the hollowpoint magnums.David, my friend, once again you did a great job.

[Randall Richard]

burial halls that were classrooms,
death angel in silence, in gloom
saw no mark to pass over,
great lines. great piece, would like to hear you perform this. i love th indictment of the media. i cant watch the news anymore. i hav'nt watched a network broadcast since peter jennings died(i loved him) but i can't avoid the incidental contack with cnn in healthclubs and bars etc. they sicken me

[Kevin Connolly]

glad the shooter was dead

Hear hear. The self-centred, pathetic little South Korean scumbag. When he was suicidal before, why didn't they let him do it? And they say suicide is a sin??? His would have been a blessing!

[*** Hey Jude***]

Sad that this event was used as your subject, the timing seems abit off, but as writers, we are free to write what we will . I have issue with this line... " Thirty-three in one place is a lot. Thats whats hot when theres no war at home, no street drugs or crime, no AIDS at this time"If you are going to refer to "Aids" then please get the facts straight. Aids is the outcome of a virus that you are infected with. You cannot become infected with Aids, you become infected with HIV.Sincerely ~ J

[T. L. O'Neal]

I feel that it isn't an appropriate subject to approach at this particular time either, especially in rhyme. Sorry. T