"When one individual inflicts bodily injury upon another such that death results, we call the deed manslaughter; when the assailant knew in advance that the injury would be fatal, we call his deed murder. But when society places hundreds of proletarians in such a position that they inevitably meet a too early and an unnatural death, one which is quite as much a death by violence as that by the sword or bullet; when it deprives thousands of the necessaries of life, places them under conditions in which they cannot live — forces them, through the strong arm of the law, to remain in such conditions until that death ensues which is the inevitable consequence — knows that these thousands of victims must perish, and yet permits these conditions to remain, its deed is murder just as surely as the deed of the single individual; disguised, malicious murder, murder against which none can defend himself, which does not seem what it is, because no man sees the murderer, because the death of the victim seems a natural one, since the offense is more one of omission than of commission. But murder it remains."
- Engels

Battle Hymn of the Repubic, Indeed

Fifty million insurees, sweating every claim
Fifteen million are denied. Who is there to blame?
Do the math. A million dead! The system has been gamed
While Truth goes marching on

Luigi Mangeone's not yet moldering in his grave
Luigi Mangeone's not yet moldering in his grave
Luigi Mangeone's not yet moldering in his grave
While Truth goes marching on

Luigi hit a nerve in us. We're on a sinking boat
Barely treading water, just tryin' to stay afloat
They throw you a couple of band aids, while they got you by the throat
While Truth goes marching on

We got ourselves a Healthcare that clearly doesn't care
How much greed does it take to know the system isn't fair
We're past the point of no return, enough with thoughts and prayers
While Truth goes marching on

Insurance grifts are everywhere, surely nationwide
More and more of us can smell the deadly underside
Raising up the question: justifiable homicide?
While Truth goes marching on

If Healthcare's nothing more than corporate acquisition
And sucking up the bucks is it's solitary mission
Maybe even murder has a pre-existing condition
While Truth goes marching on

One murder's surely wrong; but a million even wronger
That's why the rage is rising. Every day it's growing stronger.
Tell the puppeteers that the damn won't hold much longer
While Truth goes marching on

Luigi Mangeone's not yet moldering in his grave
Luigi Mangeone's not yet moldering in his grave
Luigi Mangeone's not yet moldering in his grave
While Truth goes marching on

New Poems

• "Battle Hymn of the Republic, Indeed"
• "Ode to a Banana"
• "Moving on After 1/6"
• "Hug"
• "Map-less Monarchs"
• "I am Such a Rich Man"
• "Beatitude with Attitude"
• "The Cross and the Lynching Tree Rap"
• "The Nudist Nun"
• "Sonnet 19"
• "Reparations Now"
• "Hoping I'm Wrong"
• "Bird Feeder"
• "Pete and Henry"
• "Nero: A Rap for Republicans"
• "Croissant"
• "Mandela"
• "The New Jim Crow"
• "The Wire"
• "Why Socialism?"

From By Heart

• "Ahiti"
• "As Some Fertile Seed"
• "Greed Screed"
• "I Sing the Ass"
• "Lying Lost Among Your Arms"
• "Now Thou Art Two and Twenty"
• "Sweet Smellin Woman"
• "This World"
• "Train Wreck"
• "Truth and Parable"
• "Why This Itch This Yen"
• "You"

Some Earlier Poems

• "Al and Bob"
• "The Lonely Puddle"
• "Ode to a Bagel"
• "The Rose"
• "Sardinia"
• "When Love's Liqueur"

Audio Recordings

• "Abu Ghraib"
• "Things About Kings"