thanks(for)giving- US borders.

9 Comments

  • catarino
  • Cultures come to conquer and their gods applaud.

Poem Commentary

Thanksgiving poem for old ghosts and the souls of their children.

thanks(for)giving- US borders.

Eat and get fat
sitting bull,
but don't buy the shit.

MASS
production of
the holiday turkey
just finished with the last
native American dinner.
Thank you, we've enjoyed your visit.

Main Course
: The morning star,
of course,
just ask crazy horse.
and drink your wine a gallon at a time-
hair continues to grow long after we're
dead n buried,
you know.

but what of the bones?
my wounded knee?
my trail of tears?

and while the mexicano
cries for the Gringo Machin
to return spanish land stolen
one hundred and sixty years
ago,

the wind coming in from the
pacific coast sings to
patrick orozco (the same
song old ghosts of the ohlone
people sing, still)-
as he rolls a rock and
rattles an empty turtle
shell.

his feet, wet at the river's
mouth, where his people
gathered and gave thanks
a thousand years ago, perhaps.
before three-finger jack and
the head of murrieta toured
the states of american rape
as bandido souls- SOLD
"a cupple coynz n dayr urz ta view."

(and long before some scientists
decided to name the coastanoan
life source, 'estuary')-
whips cracked on the backs, and
crosses were burned on the
foreheads of peaceful nomadic
peoples

 to baptize them,
               Spanish,

legalized in the eyes of god,

cristiano.
viva mexico,
viva cristo rey,

god bless america
.

but it wasn't always
that way.

Thanks(for)Giving-  US
Borders.

Poem Comments

(9)

Please login or register

You must be logged in or register a new account in order to
leave comments/feedback and rate this poem.

Login or Register

dahlusion commented on thanks(for)giving- US borders.

11-15-2009

A brilliant write! You are like a poetic PBS documentary feeding us the truth.

xintensex commented on thanks(for)giving- US borders.

11-13-2009

iI'm taking from this poem,you agree with U.S. borders...if that's true,I applaud your poem very much.there was bloodshed all over the world,when establishing your seed,it is what it is...without borders,there would be chaos....build higher,keep them stronger....good poem.

catarino

11/14/2009

Let me begin by saying, I was raised an extremely patriotic American. There are, however, many layers and viewpoints in this poem. My father crossed the US border illegally in 1968 from Mexico- taking up residence in San Jose, CA. He met and later married my mother who is a direct decendent of the Ohlone people(nomadic tribes that origanally inhabited the south bay region), and I was eventually born in Mexico in 1976. I have grown up hearing all sides of this story, and the multiple 'voices' contained in this poem are all familiar to me. I respect your opinion, but my influences are broad and inclusive-I live all sides of the issue. Peace.

mangeoart commented on thanks(for)giving- US borders.

11-11-2009

There will always be those who are downtrodden...I wish that weren't true, but, alas, it is.

mlea commented on thanks(for)giving- US borders.

11-11-2009

i like this piece, the way you have directed your anger and frustration,stated simply and plainly, the facts speak for themselves... you have written this well, mlea

castlemist commented on thanks(for)giving- US borders.

11-11-2009

This is a nice write catarino. You bring up some great points and imagery.

In science one tries to tell people, in such a way as to be understood by everyone, something that no one ever knew before. But in poetry, it's the exact opposite.

Franz Kafka (1883-1924) Czech writer.

catarino’s Poems (42)

Title Comments
Title Comments
white beard 8
finding Tinoco 1
thanks(for)gi
ving- US borders.
9
the forgiveness of skin 6
we are memorable 4
broken beat 3
water song 2
subtle 0
days 0
time always 1
inicio 2
to a new friend 1
(close to you) 0
editing 'Almagest'--- i guess. 0
prayer 2
notes 1
jellyfish 2
lingering 3
flirting 4
here and there 5
candy 5
stayin awake 2
( ) 1
lagos 6
Conflict of Gods 2
a dream response 3
time? 1
thoughts 3
sluggish 1
silence is a sheild 4
deciding to jump @ Davenport 3
death is treasure 2
pause 6
homeless 2
tossin and turnin 2
father 2
close to being further 2
meeting you 2
Revision 2
Amiga 3
Commitment and wishes 2
spider and butterfly 7