Ray McGinnis is author of Writing the Sacred (Northstone, 2005) and has been published in Quills Canadian Poetry Magazine. He lives in Vancouver.

 

Homeland Blues

We're very very angry. Don't you call us lazy.
Water kept on risin', spillin' through the levee.
We were sent for shelter to the Super Dome.
There was no food or water, no place for a home.
President siad "Brownie, you've done a heck of a job!"
Drug stores rampaged, dairy, deli, diapers robbed.

We're very very angry. Don't you call us lazy.
Water kept on risin', spillin' through the levee.
Eighteen year-old Jabbor Gibson had noo tiime for roostin'.
Filled a bus with people and drove it on to Houston.
We think he was a hero. Lawmakers disagreed,
said "charge him with the theft of private property."

We're very very angry. Don't you call us lazy.
Water kept on risin', spillin' through the levee.
We reached the bridge at Gretna in search of higher ground.
But po-lice pointed riffles, we had to turn around.
 From Lafayette they sent five hundred boats for rescue.
But FEMA didn't want them and things went all askew.

We're very very angry. Don't you call us lazy.
Water kept on risin', spillin' through the levee.
George W, he said, don't fret 'bout what's been wrought.
We're gonna build a porch and house for old Trent Lott.
Funds to shore the levees up and hold the waters back,
we're diverted to fund the cost of war in I-raq.

We're very very angry. Don't you call us lazy.
Water kept on risin', spillin' through the levee.
Nine million meals prepared on hand in Colorado,
we're left to stay in storage when George said it's a "no go."
Workers trained for rescue sent down by the Red Cross
we're told to stay away, compounding dreadful loss.

We're very very angry. Don't you call us lazy.
Water kept on risin', spillin' through the levee.
George W protested, "no one could have known."
But Brownie blew the whistle, a TV video shown.
Our mama is still missin'. New Orleans just got meaner.
Lies and ruin spillin' since Hurricane Katrina.

A HUNTING CATECHISM

What are we doing for the weekend?
We are having a vacation.

What are we doing here on this ranch?
We are hunting.

What will you wear when you are hunting?
A bright orange vest.

Why are you wearing a bright orange vest?
For safety, so I can be identified.

And where will you be standing?
At ninety degree angles away from you.

What have you been drinking?
A can of beer.

What are you loading in your gun?
Birdshot pellets.

What are you hunting?
Quail.

Any why is that quail wearing a bright orange vest?

I have no idea.

And what have you shot?
78 year-old Harry Whittington.

And who is he?

A hunting partner.

And where has he been shot?
In the face, chest and heart.

And what has he suffered?
A mild heart attack.

And what are you doing now?
Having a cocktail.

And when will the police question you?

In about fourteen hours.

And when will you inform the press?

In about twenty hours.

And what are you eating?
Quail.

And who's apologized for causing your distress?
Harry Whittington.

And where can we find you?

In an undisclosed location.