American Life

This 4th of July weekend, I struggle with my own patriotism. Am I a respected member of this nation? I wanted to share some of my recent verses for the special occasion.

BBQ’d

This weekend,

question the corny cobs,

grill the meatheads

high on homegrown, misogynistic courage.

Prayers mixed with mother’s potato salad.

Make fear the foreigner

so that when he arrives at your doorstep,

you do not recognize him.

Plea of Insanity

To plead insanity,

I need to hear voices,

stillbirth my bad choices.

Monumental marriages

dissolved into mud-throwing divorces.

Plead insanity to these lifetime appointments

sewn shut orifices

all stitched up,

we can’t sing the anthem

or even be in the chorus.

Supreme Syzygy

Each court case catastrophe

eclipses the other,

a syzygy of rigidity.

Two powerful father suns

and a cold mother moon,

aligned in strategy.

Supreme authority,

a conservative assault;

bow your heads in forced prayer

to the judicial occult.

32 responses to “American Life”

Colleen Chesebro: WordCraftPoetry

I love this and share your sentiments. 💜💚💛

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you so much for reading these small poems and for this message, Colleen. 💜
  
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  1. Colleen Chesebro: WordCraftPoetry
    
    We all have to stand strong together. ❤
    
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Jewish Young Professional “JYP”

I really like these, especially BBQ’d

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you so much, JYP. Our family BBQ has lots of interesting conversations going on, and I’m doing my best to stay cool.
  
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Mister Bump UK

You are 100% patriotic to call these out. To make your country better? What more noble goal could there be?

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1. K.Hartless
  
  What a wonderful thing to say. Thank you, Mr. B. It’s not easy to be outspoken and to face head-on intolerance and prejudice. I appreciate your encouraging words.
  
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  1. Mister Bump UK
    
    Well, you make it look easy. Must be all those years of practise 🤣
    
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  2. K.Hartless
    
    Indeed. I do better behind my pen than in person.
    
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Tom

These were such beautifully-phrased and withering criticisms of the USA’s sorry state today. You’re absolutely right in tackling them head on & drawing attention to how far things have fallen. ❤ Plea of Insanity was a standout piece.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you so much, Tom. I find it best to write about whatever burns and that’s what I’ve done the past week or so with these little brevity poems.
  
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  1. Tom
    
    Feels better to let it out rather than keep all your frustrations bottled up inside ❤
    
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Ingrid

Strong words for troubled times, K.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you, Ingrid. In some ways, I’m able to pen the things I cannot say, and it feels really good to put them out there like nunnery own fireworks, really.
  
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utahan15

is it harkless or hartless
kat or kath
boy or broi
sufficient to the day it s own evil
and the nation free and yet not
anymore
p o l a r i t y
thanks to t r u m p

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Jaya Avendel

What a fabulous collection of poems! These lines burned out at me the most: “Make fear the foreigner
so that when he arrives at your doorstep,
you do not recognize him.” Powerful!

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you, Jaya. I am going through it these past few weeks. I try to keep politics separate from my art most of the time, but it’s just not possible right now. I really appreciate your comments, friend.
  
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Carolyn Crossley VixenOfVerse

Very well written, cleverly expressed. Good for you for writing them. ❤❌❤

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you so much, Carolyn. I appreciate your support. 💜💜
  
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  1. Carolyn Crossley VixenOfVerse
    
    🙂❌❤
    
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Bartholomew Barker

Love the last two lines of Supreme Syzygy. Great work!

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you. We had one of those recently and it seemed to align so well with what was happening. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again for a long time. 😂
  
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Jeff Flesch

Those are all visceral and deep with meaning and emotion, K. I celebrarte and honor you for sharing these with us. It’s the perfect day for this share.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you, Jeff. In the past, I’ve written about missing America or my hopes for the nation on this day, but this year, my verse was disbelief and heartache. I am so grateful for you encouragement and support. 💜
  
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  1. Jeff Flesch
    
    You’re most welcome, K. Your feelings are completely understandable. It’s a scary time in this country right now. It’s my pleasure to support you, dear friend. Always. 💜
    
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tiffanyarpdaleo

Thank you for expressing in words how many of us are feeling today, you do it so well!

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1. K.Hartless
  
  That’s very kind, Tiff. It’s heartbreaking to feel this way as I’ve always had such a deep love for my country.
  
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writingwhatnots

Can feel the anger and frustration in your words, K. Powerfully expressed.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Thank you, Marion. I wrote them over a few days just like volcanoes these little verses. I’m glad I got it all out.
  
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johncoyote

I hope the next election. The women control the vote and I hope they remember. Get rid of the career politicians. The old fat men must be fired. Put in people, who have concern for human rights and women rights. I will research myself too, the people running for office. Dear K. Hartless. Time for us to unite.

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1. K.Hartless
  
  Oh this is lovely. Thank you, Coyote. The only thing that can stop a free fall is a wide net of hands. I hope we have that here in the US and that we are saved from ourselves.
  
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  1. johncoyote
    
    I agree my friend. We allowed old rich men to run our government. Time for new men and women to change our world.
    
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