Stone Soup Croutons, 1-9-17, We The Ignored

Stone Soup Croutons is a weekly poem I write using lines and impressions picked up from poems overheard from Stone Soup's open mic readers and features. I figure out a title (and sometimes the rest of the poem) later.

I made it back to Stone Soup last night. It's been going on without me for a while. I decided to come back and see what's up, as well as give away copies of Stone's Throw. And to hear DiDi Delgado, Navah The Buddaphliii, who offered to perform for my return show.There was a lot of emotions going on in my head. I eventually settled on being happy for the support. 

Not surprisingly, with less than two weeks until the inauguration, Trump made it in here again. It's raw, it's quickly edited, it's all over the place. In short, it's business as usual. Nice to be back.


We the Ignored

Black woman gives birth
to open mic,
introduces God.

White poets wait
after one another
to hear themselves.

All while Donald Trump
paces wile waiting
to follow God.

Women aren't sure
if they can follow Trump
but fear being followed,

in fear of their bits
like leaves to a rake
in a toddler's hands.

Trump sees them scurry
in the back. One has
the saddest brown eyes ever.

It reminds him too much
of old dead poetess
or talking teachers.

President applauds
that there are fewer
poetry related accidents

The last trachea given
due to abused trochee
way back in 1979.

It's never mentioned
there are fewer poets
to have accidents.

Every morning Goodwill
has a bonfire party
with their donated chapbooks.

Words smoke away,
occupy everything
and nothing and leave.

Deadbeats all of them
Trump deadpan slams
asking the audience

if we're better off now
than before we started
painting our walls green

praying for CGI intervention
thankful for an age where both
all  and none matter.

How bad can you all be,
Trump says triumphantly,
if you all love me.

The lamplighter shrugs.
He's doing his job. Not his fault
they're seeing what they see.

This is the first time
a president has pet names
for every special interest

but not his wife,
undressing like a metronome
posing for everyone

from a position  of privilege
the cued audience cheers
#nojusticenopeacenoproblem

never acknowledging
the elephant on their laps
if they're still conscious.

Thank you for coming.

Special thanks to Isabel, Deborah M. Priestly, Toni Bee, Nancy Messom, Martha Boss, David Miller, Erik Nelson, Michael Koran, DiDi Delgado, Navah The Buddaphliii and James Van Looy.