the bus to blunderville

bought the ticket
in my hometown
all aboard
for the shootin’ place
won’t see his hands
up high
death in his eyes
tears runnin’ down
his mama’s face
better take the bus
to blunderville
help settle up
the earthly bill
the people’s will
uphill all over
torn asunder still
as ‘mancipation’s proclamation
counterfeit by militarization’s
misery guvnor n his guards
save law n order’s
skin so white
confederate kin
resuscitate the knights
for what it’s worth
less a freedman’s birth
of a nation’s dirth
of fortitude’s foundation
don’t wait
for the TV station break
get-up n go take
go take the bus
to blunderville
help settle up
the earthly bill
the people’s will
uphill all over
torn asunder still
but listen listen good
a steadfast dirge
to heal the blight
n wave dirty laundry
’twas kept outta sight
voices hounded grounded
‘carcerated from flight
suffocated smoke signals
confiscated human rights
but don’t be hamstrung
don’t let liberty’s bell
get un-rung
when one gets stung
it means all of us
gotta take the bus
to blunderville
help settle up
the earthly bill
the people’s will
uphill all over
torn asunder still
[2014]

Photo: Jim Pickerell U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Public Domain/WikiMedia