Street Roots • July 14-20, 2017
Poetry/Prose
Rallying cry
Aileen McPherson is
a Street Roots Vendor.
What Must I Do?
BY AILEEN McPHERSON
stood in rows, as Trumpets fierce were
allowed protected attacks against roses
black defending compassion, equality, and
park cooled by a canopy of wizened
respect. Crowds amass as time passes,
treants, rooted deeply in knowledge
energies fantastic with mirth and merriment
of histories past, presently waiting
futures untold, now what of this day the 4th
we meet the hate that brings debate, sing
of June in the year 2017, how remembered
stories of tragedies past lest not we forget
will it be.
historic mistakes that many lives did break.
A gathering of four factions: First to my
A bright colored hero abounds,
left the Unionists supporting the laborer in
elsewhere innocents are tread on the
older times known as the common worker
ground while documenting the scene
or blue collar worker seeking equal rights in
around, aggressive posture continue to grow
labor conditions; Second to my right the
bolder weapons shouldered, give rise to
socialists usually of higher education having
cautions noted though there is no doubt
a vested interest in political reform for the
when they shout “time to get out!” Not all,
collective good; Third in front of me the pro
however, merely one, their focus point all
Trump supporters made up of many classes
the day has been in fun antagonization
compiled of supremacists, bigots, fascists,
looking to bait one to retaliate, for that’s all
and hypocrites to be nice; Fourth and last
it takes, one mistake and your life they
behind me the anti-fascists - a.k.a. antifa -
break.
many are children of old school anarchists,
Life is honor, record, relate, make no
while others are the new anarchist working
mistakes, all lives here are at stake, a break
to change the world by breaking down the
in the canopy lets light rain down, yellow
old, outdated systems of inequality through
smoke lingers in air pouring forth from the
means of aggression, fear, and oppression,
ground, where hands held high, compassion
sadly with aggression, which means they
does reside, while blues disgrace as mace
become as dangerous as the ones they fight
against. Lastly in between all factions mainly shoots this face, truth where are you now
when the combative are protected and the
the pro Trumpers and antifa was a fifth of
innocent dejected, how can they condone
the peacekeepers - a.k.a. Portland Police
being human, seeking solace, not standing
Bureau - paid to protect and serve, all
alone.
communities unbiasly from the homeless on
With a rallying cry I speak disturb the
the street to the bureaucrat on the hill, yet
sound of silence, be heard make them see
here they command a stance saying we
though humble we are not meek, protecting
control this land and you will disband when
while defending relatives, friends,
we demand.
communities, our world family, from those
Lines were made, antagonists crossed, a
who would dominate, control, and
Black Rose requested actions taken, while
marginalize our civil human rights.
deaf ears amused by power tripping Blues
C O N T R IB U T IN G C O L U M N IS T
by W ookie
A
I try to be a stand-up citizen
To not fall
into the perceptions people think
People think all homeless
Are the dredges
Of society
That we lie
That we cheat
That we steal
So I try to help whenever I can
Sometimes even when I can’t afford it
I finally get a head
Slightly out of water
Then I lose nearly everything and
Need to start over once again
Is this the second time,
The third or fourth
Or so many times, I’ve lost count
Funny thing is
It isn’t the general public
That does this
It’s we who do it to each other
I simply ask,
Why?
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Did you serve in the
Armed Forces
and are experiencing
>
or at risk of
homeless?
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