This Christmas folks are in distress
Some have much and some have less
People who are blessed
And others overstressed

Many have no place to go
As the cold winds blow
Many are in so much need
With families to somehow feed

Nobody deserved what happened here
The loss of life and all the fear
There are people with everything
And those with barely anything

Before we give what some don't need
Might we our hungry neighbors feed?
Then enjoy the season bright
Knowing that we got it right

Lord, thank you that the first vaccine
Went first to those who cared for us
The first ones there upon the scene
It was wise, and it was just

Thank you for their first response
We pray they know your love ensconced
They who took work to new heights
They who fought the best of fights

Lord, they did it out of love
They surrendered to your hand above
And then they made it part of them
Please bless these heroes
And Amen

"Apart Meant"

Remember me in words you cussed
In circular arguments left nonplussed
In your hatred all around
In every evil here you found

Remember me when boots once tread
Upon my face 'til yours was red
In every angry bitter thought
That amplified your hatred wrought

Remember me in lies untold
As shape-shifting explanations sold
Off the tongue of damage caused
Without recourse to crowd's applause

Remember me when you are old
And friends are hard to find
At end when all in blink unfolds
And truth in death is mine

After bedtime, full of sleep
An infant sat with pants still on
And though he felt a wetness seep
His sleep could not be woken from

He dreamed about his future day
And what his life was all about
What would come at end of stay
When his candle had burned out

A sleeping old man, incontinent
Died in a dream of youth extant
He met himself on middle rung
And awoke both wet and young

Wards of the government were we
Occupied by the white man's decree
The trail of tears was of our misery
Your Hotchkiss guns bled Wounded Knee

Whether to be the nations we were
Or to join those of taken back offer
We fought and died right by your side
Could an Indian somehow have pride?

We loved this land before you came
And tried to turn "savages" tame
We know your treaties; we know your shame
We know we're proud of our name

You don't have all you could take from our toll
Even though this was your goal
You've killed our land by your heavy hand
Turning hallowed soil to sand

If we don't protest, the very Earth it will ring
That you took our everything
Your ways have the powers of but your sorrows
Our ways had endless tomorrows

Once our illness meant possession
Sons and daughters of evil conception
In Bedlam's squalor we were a zoo
We shared the ovens of Auschwitz too

People don't know we are sick
Just because some think too quick
People know we've little recourse
Paranoids are wrong, of course

And try to tell it to the police
They'll ask you if you took your meds
It's a great way to lose your lease
Everything's all in our heads

We cannot carry guns you see
The Second Amendment doesn't apply
So our peers are left to die
In this great society

After there was Stellazine
They kicked so many to the curb
Community support was lean
With policy absurd

They had to use their deadly force
Without a Taser, a life was lost
They'll be cleared in court, of course
Yet, now we know what Tasers cost

Now to the dangerous Fall we wake
More COVID-19 that we can't shake
Way too few people are very keen
On the need again to quarantine

Who knew our hallowed freedom found
When world pandemic came around
In freedom's name, its people drowned
Brought by some and passed around

COVID says, "Come out and play."
"This will be your lucky day."
"You can't catch me, I am weak"
"Let's play another Hide and Seek"

What we can't see will never hurt us
Brothers/Sisters don't be nervous
Never become overwrought
Put it far away from thought

Pay no attention as time will tick
As it racks up dead and sick
Seven seconds of degree
Separate the you from me

Don't take away my right to spread
My liberty of not to dread
Unmasked in crowds is my way
So what if all your children pay?