XI.

On September 19, 2013, I’m in the lineup to read at the Cat Club, a bar in San Francisco. Jonathan Ferrell has just been murdered by police after surviving a car crash.

here is going on a war there is war on going on here

called him nigger.

called him liar.

hung Clint Eastwood chairs from southern trees.

blue red black

white ninety-nine

one stars and

bars stars and

stripes

invidisible

we may mass the troops amissing Sunday mornings

ammunition stackpiled on a stock of bibles

but just listen to the smalling voice of fearful white people—

i’m telling you:

stand up they are not going to stand for this take this sitting down