Daniel Kunene's Poetry
I forgot my walker at home
( 4/08/11)
Do not deceive yourself, Walker
We are not simpletons
Do not deceive yourself, Walker
We are not gullible
Do not deceive yourself, Walker
We are not dupes
You tell us you were just walking on the beach
When you tripped against this box full of votes?
Uh-Uh, Walker, it was dead fish just being fishy,
it smelled awful
Next time please walk in straighter paths, Walker!
( 4/08/11)
Do not deceive yourself, Walker
We are not simpletons
Do not deceive yourself, Walker
We are not gullible
Do not deceive yourself, Walker
We are not dupes
You tell us you were just walking on the beach
When you tripped against this box full of votes?
Uh-Uh, Walker, it was dead fish just being fishy,
it smelled awful
Next time please walk in straighter paths, Walker!
Professor Daniel Kunene reads his poems that
were inspired by the rallies at the state Capitol for
workers' rights
were inspired by the rallies at the state Capitol for
workers' rights
Running for office
(4/08/11)
They ran for office
Literally! Got in there hyperventilating
Sprawled on the floor to catch their breath
With their pants exposing their rumps
And got into this hallowed place
Then turned it into a shambles broken glasses everywhere
As they fished around for ice cream:
Ice cream I tell you
Finding none they crawled through
Every nook and cranny of this house
Crushing everything in their way
So we loaned them walkers to save the place
Nothing helped. Then we decided,
I mean we The People, that those who run for office
Can also be forced to run from office
Recall was the word
RECALL!
RECALL!!
RECALL!!!
RECALL!!!!
(4/08/11)
They ran for office
Literally! Got in there hyperventilating
Sprawled on the floor to catch their breath
With their pants exposing their rumps
And got into this hallowed place
Then turned it into a shambles broken glasses everywhere
As they fished around for ice cream:
Ice cream I tell you
Finding none they crawled through
Every nook and cranny of this house
Crushing everything in their way
So we loaned them walkers to save the place
Nothing helped. Then we decided,
I mean we The People, that those who run for office
Can also be forced to run from office
Recall was the word
RECALL!
RECALL!!
RECALL!!!
RECALL!!!!
Dr. Kunene with his loving wife, Marci, at the
Capitol Rally on April 10
Capitol Rally on April 10
Juneteenth 2011
(June 17th)
They hang people, don’t they?
(a poem by Daniel Kunene)
Down
Down
Down in the Deep South of the Soul
A black effigy dangles
From a hangman’s noose
On Langdon Street
In Madison, Wisconsin
White heat strives to sear
The last mercy drop
In the Deep South of the Soul
Where a black effigy dangles neck twisted
From the eaves of a fraternity
On Langdon Street
In Madison, Wisconsin
Down
Down
Down in the Deep South of the Soul
Arizona fires roar through the land, to the border, their white
heat
Threatening even the feisty moisture-laden desert plants
While a black effigy dangles from a hangman’s noose
On the eaves of a fraternity on Langdon Street
In Madison, Wisconsin
But, Brothers and Sisters, today we meet here
To exorcise the demons of the Soul
And invite whomsoever the spirit moves to join us
In our sororities and fraternities of freedom
For, whatever the odds
We’re moving forward, and forward and forward
And no obstacles shall deflect us from our path
Power to the People!
© 2011 by Daniel Kunene
(June 17th)
They hang people, don’t they?
(a poem by Daniel Kunene)
Down
Down
Down in the Deep South of the Soul
A black effigy dangles
From a hangman’s noose
On Langdon Street
In Madison, Wisconsin
White heat strives to sear
The last mercy drop
In the Deep South of the Soul
Where a black effigy dangles neck twisted
From the eaves of a fraternity
On Langdon Street
In Madison, Wisconsin
Down
Down
Down in the Deep South of the Soul
Arizona fires roar through the land, to the border, their white
heat
Threatening even the feisty moisture-laden desert plants
While a black effigy dangles from a hangman’s noose
On the eaves of a fraternity on Langdon Street
In Madison, Wisconsin
But, Brothers and Sisters, today we meet here
To exorcise the demons of the Soul
And invite whomsoever the spirit moves to join us
In our sororities and fraternities of freedom
For, whatever the odds
We’re moving forward, and forward and forward
And no obstacles shall deflect us from our path
Power to the People!
© 2011 by Daniel Kunene
Reacting to the Black Effigy Incident on Langdon Street ...