Avoidance

Our problem is
not to solve our problems
But to avoid them.

Our problem is
not awareness
But selective awareness.

Our problem is
not to learn
But to specialize.

Our problem is
not to see
But to adjust our blinders.

Our problem is
not to hear
But to turn it off.

Our problem is
to maintain our comfort
In a world of suffering.

Edison S. "Pinky" Fisk

© Edison S. Fisk, 2009. All rights reserved.

Alone Together

God is dead.
Where then shall we seek forgiveness?
Who then will forgive me?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We shall have to learn to forgive ourselves.
I will have to learn to forgive myself.

God is dead.
Who then will comfort us?
Where can I get reassurance?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We must comfort one another,
Therefrom comes my confidence.

God is dead.
Where then will we find salvation?
Who then will save me?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We must save ourselves !
We must save ourselves from our own cleverness.
I must release myself from my old traditions
If we are to be saved.

God is dead.
Who then will bear my guilt?
Who then will die for me?
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Guilt is emotional pain and can be healthy.
We just feel guilty about the wrong things,
And I don't want anyone
Dying for me.

God is dead.
Where then will we find restraint?
Who then will keep me from doing evil?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We will have to look to community,
We will have to take care of each other.

      If my brother is wounded
      I must hurt.
      If my sister is burned
      I must scream.
      For the next time
      It may be me.

Edison S. "Pinky" Fisk

© Edison S. Fisk, 2009. All rights reserved.

Ocean Trip

I stand on the wet, firm sand
And watch John climb that cliff
Of slippery shale and rotten rock.
         John registered as a C.O. yesterday.

The tide is coming in,
The breakers roar,
The wet sand undercuts a bit.
         John doesn't like the war.

It starts easy on the shale,
But soon grows steep
With few handholds.
         He must make his case on conscience.

A few projecting rocks
Are all the holds there are;
They crumble in his hands.
         He must convince the board with what he knows.

He inches upward,
Rocks slithering, tumbling down.
I could not go so far.
         He has the wrong religion.

The ledge dissolves beneath his feet ---
He's stuck.
He can't go further.
         He can't use God for aid.

He turns his head and asks, "Which way?"
I cannot urge him on
To seek the goal I cannot reach.
         Most of us have feet of clay.

Coming down is even harder;
Rocks flying, coat preceding...
At last he's safe
         Down here with me.

The tide is higher, the wind is up,
The scud is beautiful
Blowing and rolling across the beach.
         The sand is not so firm today.



© Edison S. Fisk, 2009. All rights reserved.

Bitter Easter

It's kind of the shits to get killed in the spring

      For reasons that seem to be obvious.

The world is just coming to life again

      and I am full of anticipation.

            We could at least wait 'til next winter

                        when the world is starting to die again.

(But I am forgetting the Australians .....
and the Africans ..... and the South Americans.)

They are playing Russian Roulette in South Viet Nam

                        and they are using my head and yours.

If I have to be burned, I would like it to be

                        for something that I stand for.

(Like maybe South Africa ..... Selma ..... or Whiskey Gulch.)

                        -------------------------------------------

When I say "THEY" I am talking about my government

                     by consent of the governed,

But they didn't ask me.

                        -------------------------------------------

                               They won't even listen

                                              But they didn't ask me.

I suppose we must put the torch to the human nest,
      because good will has such narrow horizons.

      The United States has the means, and it looks like
                                              the will.

I am kind of ashamed for my country.



© Edison S. Fisk, 2009. All rights reserved.

Search and Destroy

We are chewing them up
and mowing them down.
We are bombing the North
and bombing the South
                           and Business is good.

We are mopping them up
and wiping them out
                           oh God we're brave.

Heliborn flying horsemen
with cigarette sensing
mechanical noses
will wipe out any group
that it smells for miles.
                           No Smoking.

© Edison S. Fisk, 2009. All rights reserved.

The Holy City

War makes prosperity
      War makes us great
War is good for business
      War fulfills our fate.
                  Hooray for War !

                                  Chorus:   Huzzanga

War creates heroes
      War makes us proud.
War is exciting
      And stimulates the crowd.
                  Hooray for War !

                                  Chorus:   Huzzanga

War is traditional
      It will reduce the population
If a little war won't do it
      Then try escalation.
                  Hooray for War !

                                  Chorus:   Huzzanga

Ol' Elby will take care of us
      He has built that reputation
He can always find a way
      To continue escalation.
                  Hooray for L.B.J. !

                                  Chorus:   Huzzanga

Before our military build up
      R.I.F. was staring at us
But now with escalation
      Full employment is our status.
                  Hooray for Escalation !

                                  Chorus:   Huzzanga

The U.S.A. is the most powerful nation on earth
      It's terribly right and strong.
In fact, this is true to such a degree
That for every small nation who wants to be free
      We must undo their every internal political wrong.
                  Hooray for Manifest Destiny !

                                  Chorus:   Huzzanga

                   Solo:   Huzzanga in the Highest,
                                Huzzanga for Evermore.



© Edison S. Fisk, 2009. All rights reserved.

Details

I know some of the little chickenshit things
      That you and I must do
            To keep things going...
I have done them and
      I still do -- what I must
            Reluctantly

Right now I am more concerned
      With the Grand Fuck-up
            In which you and I participate
With the little chickenshit things
      That we must do
            I, at least, RELUCTANTLY.


© Edison S. Fisk, 2009. All rights reserved.

Always Be Safe

Be cautious, be prudent, be safe.
Don't ever take any risk.
You're a fool if you do,
      you may end up in the stew,
Always be safe.

Be patient, be prudent, be safe.
Always be bland.
Don't ever be loud,
      go along with the crowd,
Always be safe.

Be cautious, be prudent, be safe.
Forever strive to be pure.
Your voice may be stilled,
      you may even get killed.
Always be safe.

Be patient, be tolerant,be safe.
It's the only way to fly.
Don't ever take a stand
      or you might get canned.
Always be safe.

Be subtle, be obscure, be vague.
Don't let them know what you think.
If they know what you said
      they may knock off your head.
Always be safe.


© Edison S. Fisk, 2009. All rights reserved.