March 15, 2004
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When they ask: "for whom did you vote?" I reply "the man in power," hoping to distract their attention from the molotov cocktail held behind my back. When they stretch the razor wire around the city, I silently begin passing out fence cutters, while waving and smiling at the soldiers. When they ask: "whose side are you on?" I reply "only on your side," hoping to persuade them not to disturb the anarchists meeting in the basement. When they interrogate the usual suspects, I pray that eyes do not betray the tongue, while the body suffers in agony. When they ask: "do you believe in god?" I reply "his name is always on my lips," showing them the stigmata painted on my palms and on my soles. When they nail me to the cross again, I tell them I love them, that I forgive them, and say that they do not know what they are doing. · · · · · ·
Poetry on Swans Gerard Donnelly Smith, a poet and musician, teaches creative writing, literature and composition at Clark College in Vancouver WA. CERRO de la ESTRELLA (Logan Elm Press, 1992) was chosen for The Governor's Award for the Arts in Ohio, 1992. Excerpts from THE AMERICAN CORPSE (10 poems) were published in Apex of the M in 1995. He is the current director of the Columbia Writers Series, an Honorary Board Member of The Mountain Writers Series, and co-advisor of the Native American Student Council at Clark College. He has also organized readings for Poets Against the War. Do you wish to share your opinion? We invite your comments. E-mail the Editor. Please include your full name, address and phone number. If we publish your opinion we will only include your name, city, state, and country. Please, feel free to insert a link to this article on your Web site or to disseminate its URL on your favorite lists, quoting the first paragraph or providing a summary. However, please DO NOT steal, scavenge or repost this work on the Web without the expressed written authorization of Swans. This material is copyrighted, © Gerard Donnelly Smith 2003. All rights reserved. |
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