reg e gaines
Disarray
— for Danny Shot
1.
havoc haunts hallways
voices silenced by digital toys
scholarly yet scandalous skeezers
avoid juvenile jesters
whose gestures suggest
complex emotional states
linked to prepubescent boys
noise once deafening
disturbed by polyrhythmic beep
analog monstrosities
mixed with hand held detectors
sweep in search of steel
finding fingernail files
miles of books
bindings bound by lead tape
make fools of machines
time and time again
2.
fashion show begins
on rundown runways
aroma of ammonia lingers
fingers tapping devices
texting tick tock videos
oblivious to climate change
world hunger
global crisis
sporting backpacks
bubble jackets
Jordans
in every colorway
vying for title
fit of the day
3.
they rarely learn lessons
providing keys to escape
perpetual virtual reality of
guns
gangs
hunger
scholastic systems
in disarray
little to say
less to expect
put in check
by political decisions
beyond their ability to comprehend
reprimands from strategic commanders
who unquestionably realize
they’ve not had breakfast
heat and hot water for days
as bright eyed innocence
competes with
skittles
barbecue chips
mountain dew
for teacher’s attention
who barks instructions
whose stomach
rarely grumbles
while young minds
fumble words
misquote irrelevant speeches
lost in maze of
mathematical equations
concentrating intensely
on the will to survive
4.
as the inhuman contraption beeps
shots ring out
most forget instructions
barricade door
hit floor
keep completely still
while one lies bleeding
arm clutching rail
of abstract staircase maze
faces frozen in disbelief
grief fleeting
scenario they all know
oh too well
tapping digital devices
cameras flash on cue
and if you were
young
poor
dark
inherently knew
this microscopic landscape
devised specifically for you
is named enemy
what would you do…
blank canvas
quick glance
chance to
mix
meld
multi-colors in an
amalgamation of collaboration
condemning that which keeps
peeps apart
as art soothes
souls sense solutions
an ablution of prayer
poured upon persons
in perpetual search
for more perfect peace
brush strokes streak
emotional imbalance
challenge to view
from deep within
begin to feel
blind to beauty
not a see all
but end to all
negative aspects
of our human existence
so we might
once again
breathe
reg e gaines is a poet, lyricist, Tony Award winning playwright and artistic director of the Downtown Urban Arts Festival.