This Land is Our Land

Silently the hurt rears its

ugly presence.  The absence 

of sweet noise, quite disturbing.  

I feel uneven walls closing in. 

As the muscles constrict my words,

I struggle to formulate an answer.  

The intense pressure builds up.

I need to hear.

I listen as....

My city (Baltimore) questions______

Why the pain?

Guns?  Drugs?  Don't we love?

Why the deaths of many young black boys?

Is destruction of my race necessary?

Divide and conquer, I see.

How could there be so much animosity,

finger pointing to hurt a family.  

Looks like your world has turned cold.  

Effecting beating hearts and human minds.

I figure too many Chiefs, not enough 

Indians in this here camp called

America.

Reviews

[Carol Cashes]

"Divide and conquer, I see." Would that all could see this so subtle and heinous manipulation of our emotions and beliefs. No, that's not the whole equation - you have to have willing subjects. Nicely penned.

[ROXANE DORSEY]

down n out n my city, is the topic, n yes never the whole equation. tie in homelessness, unemployment, teen pregnancy, i can go on. I"m lookn for solutions, ending. embarking on a new era,trend.... some positiveness in the ghettos, as they labeled it. thanks for review

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Amazing, relevant and honest poem. You present the critical arguments and pose the critical questions so powerfully and eloquently. All the “Why?”s that are killing America. Staccato, stark imagery in the flow of your poem-like a river of blood and tears and despair. “Divide and conquer”- the true agenda. Last three lines resound in brilliance. I read Ms. Angelou in you. Brava for your courage to speak out against this tyranny.

[ROXANE DORSEY]

Thanks for the positive review. and reading my poetry.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

You are very welcome. A hard read but a great read.