*The new school year is about to begin, and as grim as it may seem, it’s fitting – to me, and possibly me alone – to post this poem from 2016. Bilston is a British poet whose real name is Paul Millicheap (an ancestor was very, very cheap, or so I like to imagine?!!). Publicity photos for his public appearances are of Bilston with his face covered by a book, and he’s been referred to as the Banksy of Poetry. I can get behind that.
*I scheduled this post, several weeks ago. yesterday, four more victims – 2 teachers dead, 2 students killed as well – with many others wounded and deeply affected by our culture of guns, and gun violence. When will we ever learn?
England is a cup of tea.
France, a wheel of ripened brie.
Greece, a short, squat olive tree.
America is a gun.
Brazil is football on the sand.
Argentina, Maradona’s hand.
Germany, an oompah band.
America is a gun.
Holland is a wooden shoe.
Hungary, a goulash stew.
Australia, a kangaroo.
America is a gun.
Japan is a thermal spring.
Scotland is a highland fling.
Oh, better to be anything
than America as a gun.