in the days of Trump
we played a little jazz
and the fascists
.
thought they were cool
so they asked us to play
something old school
.
but how do we sing
the old songs
if we forget the poetry
.
the newspapers
the protests in which we cried
this is what democracy looks like
.
if we forget these freedoms
let our tongues and lips wither
let our lyrics turn to twitter rants
.
but the fascists asked
for a song
so here’s some old school blues
.
happy is he who treats Trump
as Trump treated the immigrant
happy is he who builds
.
the wall
that leaves Trump
on the side with the desert
Psalm 137 King James Version (KJV)
137 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.7 Remember, O Lord, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.8 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.
.
And my favorite version of Psalm 137 —
Poem and compilation copyright 2019 John Samuel Tieman