Journey to Ixtlan

The poem “Monsters Walk” was inspired by news stories about leaders who bend the shared world to the minority view.


Monsters Walk

Monsters walk the earth in your name
with flocks aligned without shame
to the masters born of men
thought to speak without sin

by declarations the die is cast
to ensure the cause will last
beholden to only power’s grab
there is no difference between good and bad

it’s not enough to serve the day
instead the masses are asked to pray
that generations will feel the yoke
now condemned by the words spoke

faded edicts stooped with age
cherry-picked to the dismay
of targets not of the flock
those decried to matter not.

© 2020. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20200211.

The poem “On Their Side” is about the amazing incongruity of two sides accusing each other of the same evils, even while they wear the same halos.


On Their Side

The holy angels take a side
when conflict coincides
with each faction in surety
that cherubs are their allies

the evil in demon’s charms
are granted to opposites
sulphur is the taint
surrounding the assailants

now turn the tables to verify
the mirror confirms roles
flipped to the opposites
nothing changed in reverse

sanity has left the room
heaven and hell no longer served
when all parties can’t realize
only they are on their side.

© 2019. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20191119.

The poem “Reasons Pile” is about the political expediency of the world and the outcomes that follow afterward.


Reasons Pile

The reasons pile upon themselves
making nonsense if compiled
still they provide enough cause
to shift the world on itself

the levers tug to push the load
towards the end that cause implores
even if the angels cry
for small mercies set aside

nothing less than victory
is enough to satisfy
motivations that allow
the rationale for lunacy

trading futures for the present
and reversed at the same time
nothing left in the middle
except for ruins now ordained

lingering long after the fact
now forgotten because of shame
the reasons had their place
to shift the world towards its end.

© 2018. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20181009.

The poem “Petard” was inspired by an apparent shift in the sexual assault disclaimer from “not all men” to “all men”. The religious communities are willing to give up their men-folk as complicit in crimes against an entire gender. This is done in an effort to gain political power, but at what loss to their souls?


Petard

Lone monsters slip behind the veil
distributed the crimes among the crowd
a thousand faces or maybe more
guilt distributed with aplomb

now the fault is congealed
the largest target one could conceive
to accuse one would damn them all
hence the world is confused

too immense to fall from wounds
all are taken as a shield
while the monsters retain their place
the power granted cannot fail

repentance would be the path
for those who embrace their faults
though power will not accede
to humble itself in the fall

the master of lies laughs the best
as the holy are finally skewered
host with their own petards
against a judgment of their Lord.

© 2018. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20180924.

I saw a Tumblr shared video that presented Sinclair Broadcast Group newscasters saying THE SAME SCRIPT, WORD FOR WORD. Propaganda some? Soviet news casting is the nearest analogy I can imagine. “Sinclair Clones” is about the disgust I have for this situation.


Sinclair Clones

I watched the echoes on the screen
Sinclair clones all conjoined
reflecting wisdom of their god
lower case and just as proud
when the lines are rehearsed
spoke by puppets on the screen
yanking strings are finally seen
as convictions disappear.

From on high the script arrives
sent to the drones to be shared
to the masses they betray
for a paycheck every day
talking heads will keep their jobs
spouting copy not their own
fawning toadies paying bills
while the masses are abused.

Some believe the trust persists
even while the lies endure
warfare honed in local news
social conflict for the souls
engraved in stone from above
the home office stating words
‘it’s just a game’ they’ll insist
they’re the winners at long last.

© 2018. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20180401.

“Written in Dollar Signs” was inspired by the actions of the GOP politicians. These have been egregious enough, with the specter of much worse to come.


Written in Dollar Signs

They asked me if I knew the rules
inscribed by the powerful
I said I was estranged
from these realms of authority

my pockets carried only dust
though in my heart I wanted more
not the wealth most would seek
instead a justice for those I loved

the taint is cured when gold is pure
no sin too great to be excused
when the wallet is brought to bear
on the conscience of honorable men

when I asked how this could be
they replied that I was out of luck
conviction may rage like the sun
but they don’t pay the bills that count

might makes right, the sole goal
the club arranged to protect
those emboldened to Satan’s goals
while those like me have no place

other than a cross no longer seen
except to crucify the ones that stand
only wanting admission of humanity
outside of rules written in dollar signs.

© 2017. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20171222.

I really respect those people who voice social justice topics on YouTube. One of those people cannot freely leave their house because of mental illness, but they still vocalize rights in front of the social media. The poem “When I Speak” is an observation of this phenomenon, and what I strive to achieve in my poetry.


When I Speak

When I speak I seek to share
the struggles felt within this one
reflection of the group embraced
please listen to my social group
though you may yet disagree
with statements put to your ears.

This isn’t who I thought I’d be
moments of anxiety
when I was young in yesteryear
now a snowflake they abuse
or so it’s thought by contrast
by the masses that embracing fear.

Watch me shoot a telling flare
put it up into the sky
to find the members of my tribe
I’ll share what bring me joy
as strange as they seem to be
outside of the accepted norms.

Exclamation of who I am
is not meant to arouse the lust
a fetish for the larger crowd
to each there own is my plea
predilections some may pursue
put to ears I hope will hear.

As a mix of all of these
just myself, and so much more
I’m not the villain some will see
please try to see my position
my disagreement does not destroy
the free speech of the whole.

© 2017. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20170725.

“Exhaustion’s Child” is based on some notes I gathered after the election of our 45th President.


Exhaustion’s Child

I went to sleep, exhaustion child’s
the hot line jammed, no resort
the panic has run its course
at the start I still had hope.

Now a monster roams the world
success the measure, his driving aim
with masses lured by a frightened call
asking nothing, this they’ll have.

Against this backdrop our history called
when my friends turned to the dark
wanting security above all else
turned to fiends beyond the veil.

The decrees are the outcome
forced by a country wishing change
by the ambitious with dollar signs
carved in books, religion’s mark.

That past night they didn’t care
who had won, which one departed
this was the thought by the dismayed
now I sleep, wishing the same.

© 2017. Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20170505.

The poem "Better's Way" is a junction between the classic line "We thought we could do better. Better never means better for everyone. It always means worse, for some." (from "The Handmaid's Tale") and the hijinks of The Freedom Caucus during the 2017 ACA repeal and replace effort. The cold-hearted audacity of The Freedom Caucus runs contrary to every liberal bone in my body, and I would hope, the compassionate bones in many peoples' frames.


Better's Way

"We thought we could do better"
says those beholden to one percent
by paycheck wrote or dogma writ
imposing worse on rest of us
bending knee at master's chair
or sitting high upon the throne
in the end the same will be:
form a world of their own.

Money taken out of pocket
is more pain that brother’s torment
a dollar taken asks revenge
smiting those who beg for bread
holy words denounced by the masses
mean more than common kindness
respect given to the godhead shared
is trampled in rush to worship idols.

Freedom becomes a catch word used
for when what is theirs matters most
damn the weaker who cannot enforce
the same truth on a squalid world
caucus is group of the minds
with same goal to serve the world
if the globe includes only them
and the masters who pay the bills.

Better never means “for all”
when the masses pay the price
for the elite that held most high
with knowledge their god will comply
it’s always worse for the some
especially for the rabble scum
forced to grovel by those who play
champions of the better’s way.

© 2017, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20170324.

“Least Qualified” is a social commentary poem about the 45’s choices of government department leadership.


Least Qualified

The least qualified fill the voids
by the measure of experience
or the mark of temperament
you’d wonder how this could be
when the least adequate preside
ready to wreck the world

conflicts become the norm
agendas contrary to the task
according to the old missions
set by the sane architects
with principles aligned
to the purpose of the governance

perhaps there is a grand plan
a reason for the disconnect
puppet master pulling strings
then I realize it is more dire
chaos spawned by currency
the qualified lack pocket books

the affluent will now reign
with the programs of their own
groomed to satisfy the few
it matters not when money rules
most qualified is still in play
by legal tender as resume.

© 2017, Sean Green. All Rights Reserved. 20170218.