Beloved friend, son, lover, brother.

I had an idea… it's a strech, but what if – that famous what if – in the city where government sleeps, sometimes they get a coffee. What if there were a network of guerrilla poets that were mobilized for impromptu mobile debates with representatives and their aides? The every-man-joe spotter TXTS a number and everyone gets a who and where of the Important Person. Techno-guerrilla poetry assaults on those who make the rules.

And what if you got them to come out to the people and experience the world the way we do? Ok, maybe that's a pipe-dream, but I bet even bush could get down w/ a Guerrilla Party.

I one saw Joe Liberman and his old lady walking on R and 34th in Georgetown w/ Starbucks cups in their hand and while I was, for the first time ever, speechless with mouth agape as I rolled my window, it occurs to me that maybe someone else wouldn't have been and had I been able to tell everyone who I saw and where, perhaps they might have heard a message in a way that resonated with them.

Just a thought.

The history of America’s science fictiondon’t take my word say it with picturesman the life boats spaced out missionsonly the Pentagon has money for winchesand a screw come loose in the trenchesa vote for either or’s natural selection

channel choices, tunnel vision pilots

elect evangelical bargain basement schism

wall to wall cars throughout the solar system

can you buy your way past the world bank

K-9 shoppers as long as you don’t think the

whole Big Bang’s yours including the kitchen sink

the sky’s the limit while there’s enough to eat

keep your foot on the gas and remain in your seat.

 

12/2003.

People are told to pay their taxes
When actually it's just one of the facts
That there's nothing in the Constitution to support that
Television pumping visions constantly to the brain
That you need either the knife or the pill when you feel pain
The truth is that the body was created to substain
And the pills that you take are the reason you feel so drained
An inaccurate world history is what we've been taught
Greed, power and money have forged the wars that were fought
The wealth that was held by an elite few
And the endless power that they sought
Have sculpted this version of reality we call the world
Washed through the tears of old broke men and little girls
And while we just sit back and watch this madness unfurl
Their version of history will be scribed forever
Polished like a brand new pearl
But rather take than heed to the lesson in need
People drown the pain in liquor and weed
With a "fuck the world" attitude that is taught to our seeds
These young cats are killing each other every week
Because they claimed Crip or Blood
Laid out in somewhere in the hood
With that blank stare and a crimson flood
We really need to unify right now
Get under one accord and turn this mess around
Before we submerge in this mess and drown

This is a fictional letter from Sgt. John Sawyer, currently serving in Iraq to his loving wife Denise back home

Dear Denise,

Hello my love, this is your husband John.
Sending you all my love and regards from the Middle East.
I'm taking time to write this letter in the middle of this war going on.
Thinking of you helps me at night when I try to sleep
Today we were travelling by convey to this town called Tikrit
To perform a sweep searching for rebel soldiers.
We were caught off-guard. Rebels attacked our convey and bombed it.
A fierce battle ensued that left many dead and wounded on both sides.
I lost a lot of friends today.
Brothers-in-arms, all for who I'd gladly give my life.
I swear I would bring them back if I had my way.
I've seen alot of awful things since being here my sweet.
Carbombings and civilian killings are just about a daily thing.
I'm tired of seeing dead bodies in the street.
I think about how I would lay my head in your lap and listen to you sing.
Serenaded melodies replaced with the erie sounds of mortar rounds.
I just can't help but wonder what it is we're really fighting for.
Is it really to bring democracy to these war-hardened desert grounds?
If they said we could leave today I'd be the first one at the airport.
On the first plane so that I could be in your arms again.
So enough of what's going on over here.
How are you and my baby girl?
Is she getting big? Did she take her first steps?
I don't know if you know but you two are my world.
I think of you two when I need a quick pep.
Hopefully this will be over soon because I'm sooo tired of the sand and heat.
I can't wait to get some real food again.
I'm damn sure tired of these MRE's and this canned meat
And I sure could use my best friend.

With all the love I have,

John