Monday, May 20, 2019

Lords and Leeches




image from indiatoday.com

Lords and Leeches


“We have a very real responsibility to protest the
rich and powerful in the name of universal freedom.”
--Nelson Mandela.

I think about
India and North Korea,
the caste system,
and poverty--

and for a brief
moment,
I can stomach
the insufferable 1%,
and their clown prince;

then
my teeth clinch.

The sunrise was rich,
with hue and hope, promising
yet another new day.



Glenn Buttkus

Quadrille

Posted lover at dVerse Poets Pub Q44
at

17 comments:

  1. brudbergMay 20, 2019 at 12:51 PM

    Indeed... why do we have to chose between what's bad and what's worse... ?

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  2. Jade LiMay 20, 2019 at 1:10 PM

    I know that magazines use different covers for different countries. I see this was the cover of Time in India. I wonder what the US cover looks like? If it is tame compared to this, we have got to ask ourselves are we already a subjugated population? How this clown can stay at the helm is a unsoluble mystery to me.

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  3. Kim M. RussellMay 20, 2019 at 1:33 PM

    How did you find that magazine cover, Glenn – it’s inspired! The caste system, feudal system or class system - they are all so wrong. My teeth seem to be gritted all the time I read or watch the news. The haiku is such a beautiful contrast I almost unclinched my teeth.

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  4. GraceMay 20, 2019 at 1:52 PM

    Yikes on all the bad news around the world. Your cover speaks to me - it is no longer funny yet he still got hordes of admirers. Lovely haiku - I always look forward to another sunrise.

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  5. Vivian ZemsMay 20, 2019 at 1:59 PM

    Sigh! This world baffles me. We have to be careful we don't grind our teeth to stubs. Love the haiku.

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  6. MishMay 20, 2019 at 2:50 PM

    I will never understand a political system that allows someone who is so obviously unqualified and literally dangerous to remain in position. That is not a free country. That is enslavement. Thank goodness the sun still rises.

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  7. Sanaa RizviMay 20, 2019 at 3:12 PM

    Such an apt and powerful haiku, Glenn! The world with its raging political problems continue to torment me.

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  8. Gillena CoxMay 20, 2019 at 3:29 PM

    Powerful write; Glen

    Happy Monday

    much love...

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  9. tonispencerMay 20, 2019 at 4:00 PM

    Thank goodness the sun still rises.

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  10. robkistnerMay 20, 2019 at 4:11 PM

    New day, same shit dude! I have ground my teeth to nubs... strong write Glenn, with excellent closing haiku and great quote from Nelson.

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  11. AmayaMay 20, 2019 at 5:55 PM

    Very well-structured poem.

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  12. TruedessaMay 20, 2019 at 6:28 PM

    Well, hopefully this clown won't start a war....I am fearful, truly I am.

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  13. Linda Lee LybergMay 21, 2019 at 6:03 AM

    Well done Glenn. And I love the haiku at the end.

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  14. JIm FeeneyMay 21, 2019 at 11:40 AM

    anger concentrated into language....well done, Glenn

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  15. lillianthehomepoet.wordpress.comMay 21, 2019 at 11:59 AM

    I seem to be gritting my teeth a lot lately. And then grinding them at night. The world is on edge, literally, with this person we are forced to call our president. Surely, surely, things will change in 2020? And now he and his cronies at the EPA are using a "new math" and "alternative facts" to enact his new coal bill!!! We will suffer for years because of this evil evil man.
    I can always count on you, Glenn, to nail it in regards to DT!

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  16. MiskyMay 22, 2019 at 4:24 AM

    Populism. The world is going topsy-turvy.

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  17. Merril D. SmithMay 22, 2019 at 5:32 AM

    Oh yes, definitely this. Thank goodness I'm not a teeth grinder, or my teeth would be ground to bits by now. But lots of stress since that November election. Agree with Misky--the world has gone topsy-turvy, and it seems to be getting worse every day.

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