BAS POETRY: TRUMPHANT HAIKUS

Broke-Ass Stuart is now accepting poetry submissions to be featured in the BAS Poetry: Arts & Culture column. Written & curated by Corinne Avganim.

Photo: Pocho.com

When I started this column, it was in reaction to an overwhelm of post election feelings. I knew I wasn’t alone and wanted to create a sense of community, rather than frustration, around our new shared reality. What I didn’t know, was how unreal that reality would become. Call it naiveté, but I somehow thought I was safe from the reach of white supremacy. I not only live in California, but a liberal, metropolitan city. But like thousands of others, I spent last month stressing over, or in the streets counter-protesting, the ever-present ideology.

There were disheartening moments and scary ones, shielded police barricades and protester confusion. There were also moments of visceral unity, of improvised strength. I was reminded of how scary hate is, how many forms it takes and how fast it spreads – seemingly silently. I was also reminded of how important it is to not only stand against it, but to be a living example of the love that’s possible.

Turn your hate for hate into something beautiful and productive. A poem, perhaps?

TRUMPHANT HAIKUS
by Gerard Sarnat

THE DTs
I liase with bad
men who’ve got what we don’t need:
guns plus silencers

12:01 PM EST JANUARY 20, 2017
Now President Trump’s
mentally ill and will not
change without treatment.

UNTITLED HAIKU In 74 CHARACTERS
John Lewis Twitter war
while Trump makes love
to then lifts Putin sanctions.

Stay tuned here for more, or follow us via @brokeassstuart and the hashtag #poetryisvoice.

To submit a poem, email poetry@brokeassstuart.com with your 100% original piece of work, full name, age, city, links to social media, and (optional) biographical blurb.