chi city '68 (it's a riot!)

TWO WORDS,
TWO SIDES,
TWO LIES:
TOO BLIND
TO SIDE
WITH TRUE LIGHT:

RENNIE DAVIS
LINCOLN PARK
ALAN GINSBURG
POLICE SIEGE
TENSION THICK
HELMETS WITH
GAS MASKS
PANIC/HYSTERIA
TEAR GAS
PLAYING TAG
WITH BILLY CLUBS
INTELLECTUALS MISUNDERSTAND
RESIST ARREST
UNDERMINE AUTHORITY
LOTS CAST
LINES DRAWN
IN SAND
WAR DECLARED
ON ANTIWARRIORS
DEMOCRATIC/UNCONVENTIONAL
UNION STRIKES
ARE UNCONDITIONAL
MEDIA CENSORSHIP
MACCARTHY AND LEFTISTS
EYE ON
THE CHI
DALY AND HUMPHREY
FLY AMONGST
DOVES AND HAWKS
BIRDS OF PRAYER
OR BIRDS OF PREY
FROM DETROIT
CHICAGO, D.C.
OR VIETNAM
YIPPIES HIPPIES
BLACK PANTHERS
AND VIETCONG
HANG IN THE BALANCE
OR THE GALLOWS
OR THE BULLET
OR THE BOMBS
FROM CHICAGO
TO KENT STATE
CAMBODIA/VIETNAM
NO LONGER
LIE DORMANT
HEAT UP
AND ERUPT
ANGER, HATRED
AND VIOLENCE
BIFURCATION OF
PEOPLE, NATION
STUDENTS HUNGRY,
THIRSTY, WEARY
TO LEARN
FROM WHOM?
ALL LIKE
LOST SHEEP
PLAY ACTING
AS SHEPHERDS
DEFENSELESS TO
WILD PIGS,
WOLVES, RATS,
BLUE & WHITE SHEPHERDS
WHOSE CANES
ARE NIGHTSTICKS
AT HOME
AND ABROAD
VIOLENCE IS
THE ANSWER
TO THE
QUESTION OF
PEACE-MAKING;
PEACE MAKERS
(AND KEEPERS)
GO TO JUNGLES
OF LEAF AND CONCRETE
PACKIN' HEAT
SWEEPING STREETS
AND CREEKS,
EAGERLY POISED
FINGERS ON TRIGGERS
BARRELS EYEBALL
"GOOKS" OR "NIGGERS"
ORDER! ORDER!
(WHOSE COURTROOM?)
WHO'S THE JUDGE
WHOSE CASE
PLEADS TRUTH,
WHOSE FACE
BLEEDS TRUTH
WHOSE DEATH
LEADS TO...
EASTER? PEACE?
WHICH IS WORSE:
BEATING/BURNING
AMERICAN FLAGS
OR AMERICAN CITIZENS
LABELLED "FAGS?"
"PROTECT AND SERVE"
OR REPRESS AND MURDER?
THOSE APPEALING
TO CONSTITUTIONALITY
COMMITTED TO SILENCE
FREE SPEECH
WITCH HUNTS
AND LYNCH MOBS,
GESTAPO COPS
IN FASCIST UNIFORMITY
DEMANDING CONFORMITY
BUT THEMSELVES SORELY
MISINFORMED
NATIONAL GUARDIANS
MILITARY PREOCCUPATION
FROM VIETNAM JUNGLE
TO WINDY CITY STREETS
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS
GENERAL PUBLIC AND
MOBS, THUGS, ARTISTS
HIPPIES, YIPPIES,
BLACK PANTHERS,
POETS, BEATS--MARTYRS
AND POLICE, SWAT, MILITARY,
POLITICIANS AND OFFICIALS
ALL WAITING
FOR A MEDIEVAL BARBARIC
ANGLO-SAXON BATTLE
WAIVING STICKS
LIKE CAVE MEN
COMPLETE REGRESS
OF "ELITE" AND CIVILIZED
CIVL RIGHTS
COVERING CONVENTION
ON TELEVISION
MEDIA DECIDES
IF RIOTS
ARE NEWS
OR PROPAGANDA
COLLUDE WHAT TO USE,
CONCLUDE THAT IT'S NEWS
SHOW THE PEOPLE THE TRUTH
EYES GLUED
TO THE TUBE,
CONFUSED
YET LEFT TO CONCLUDE
ON THEIR OWN
WHAT'S THE TRUTH
AND THINK ABOUT
HOW TO VOTE ON ORDER
AT HOME
AND ABROAD...

PEACE OR PACIFICATION?

TWO WORDS,
TWO SIDES,
TWO LIES
TOO BLIND
TO SIDE
WITH TRUE LIGHT:
CHI CITY
'68