(In memory of Martin Buber)
Ladies and gentlemen,
Let us be honest.
No wrong can be righted
By steel-hearted
Money-minded
Laser-guided
Precision bombing
Child-desecrating
Automatons.
Absolutely not.
Wrongs are righted only
When true human beings
Sit down together
And discuss their fears
Resentments
Misunderstandings
Aspirations and
Hopes.
For the creative word is the supreme expression
Of our humanity.
So, for God’s sake,
Before they can drag and drug us
Back into the dark
Eternal void,
Let us rush into the streets
Studios
Lobbies
Bunkers
And teach our leaders to converse.
Berkeley
15 February 1991