painting by Michael D'Antuono.
Kykes, Gooks, Beaners and Ragheads
Imagine there are no countries,
it’s not hard to do;
nothing to kill or die for,
and no religion too.
--John Lennon.
Nationalism had its roots everywhere I went;
families, homes, suburbs, even places to die.
Sticking to their own kind, rigid and bent.
They say racism is not what they meant;
liking these persons, but not that guy.
Nationalism had its roots everywhere I went.
Landlords choosing who may and may not rent;
rolling eyes, clenched teeth, and cruel sighs.
Sticking to their own kind, rigid and bent.
Harsh resistance, with laws they had to invent;
lame excuses, dishonesty, & xenophobia--oh my;
nationalism had its roots everywhere I went.
In cities, states, countries, even continents;
people desert the truth, and prefer to lie--
sticking to their own kind, rigid and bent.
All this is so sad, and so very evident;
never wrong, or willing to put crows in a pie.
Nationalism had its roots everywhere I went;
Sticking to their own kind, rigid and bent.
Glenn Buttkus
Villanelle
Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub
13 comments:
I feel there's a dash of Leonard Cohen in there. I like this resolutely non-pastoral take on the villanelle - you make it really contemporary. The repetition gives it the feel of a protest song.
Having seen the multi cultural groups here, I can see this line: Sticking to their own kind, rigid and bent. This is all so sad when people desert truth and prefer to lie. They save their own skin and their own tribe. A timely theme too.
By the way, a very creative title Glenn.
All this is so sad indeed. Very well made.
Tight, balanced construction of your villanelle. Its commentary on what I see as an Achilles heel of human nature for so many cannot be breached. Why so many cannot or will not escape the rigid bounds of blindness and exclusion that bends and twists them is a mystery. I think substance abuse plays a big role and brainwashed fear is a poison as well.
I agree with Sarah about yours being a non-pastoral, contemporary villanelle, Glenn, and the repetition definitely gives it the feel of a protest song. It could have been written in the sixties and is relevant to the current climate.
There is tireless and timeless relevancy in this and you for the form so well with its repetition.
This is all so sadly true. And it just seems more obvious every day. As others have mentioned, a contemporary, non-pastoral villanelle, with power in its repeating lines.
Well written Villanelle dude! Riled, ragin’, and scorchin’, which you do so well Glenn. I went with a combination of horror and humor. I was feeling merry and murderous this morning...
brilliant, timely, tragic ~
Alas... the way it seems to work... a nation is a dangerous construction, and it can lead to something much worse i'm afraid.
How well this form lends itself to such a theme, in your skilled hands. Thanks for expanding the possibilities.
Written as only you can Glenn.
I really like this. Can I share it on my FB timeline?
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