RAS KDC (12/10/1959 / WASHINGTON, D.C.)

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how much blood
has the rivers drunk?
intoxicated by hate
impoverished by war

how much blood
has the rivers drunk?
over, and over
as the waves of innocent lives
crushed the shores
while their leaders plotted
how much the rivers would drink
teaching millions how to think
marching, singing patriots of equal stupidity
hero’s by day
idiots by night
fighting some war
they thought was right

how much blood
has the rivers drunk
out of broken glasses, or silver chalices
mixed with tonic water, or ginger ale
oh what stories the soldiers do tell
veterans reap the benefits
of wars commercialized
of generations analyzed

how much blood
has the rivers drunk?
how many can walk a straight line?
how many escape the centuries of time?
how much blood
has the rivers drunk?
how many will still drink?






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