COURAGE - 64 DAYS INTO A HUNGER STRIKE

Courage, these days, is not as rare as we would like to think. Raj Bhat, a pharmacist, dared to challenge his former employer, Medco-a Fortune 500 company with 2009 revenues of $59.8 Billion USD (Wikipedia). He (and other pharmacists) filed a complaint with the Florida Board of Pharmacy. He was subsequently fired. His is a timely story as we observe Labor Day. Today is the 64th day of his hunger strike in an unfolding story with Medco. Follow his story at http://ihungerstrike.blogspot.com/ Perhaps, courage is Raj Bhat.

THE 64th DAY OF A HUNGER STRIKE
for Raj Bhat

On the 64th day of a hunger strike
An apple still waits a bite.
For the one-eyed giant, it’s a numbers game
And we are numbers. Numbers that think
Numbers have souls; numbers have names
And tongues to taste a wounding of silence
On the 64th day of a hunger strike
who can quiet Gandhi’s unquiet?

© Sasenarine Persaud

Poetry Month - WHEN

WHEN

And when that time arrives

--as it must--when we part

May there be no taste of neem

On our tongues. What might have been

Is in dreams and our next mornings:

The smooth transitioning motorcycles'

Gears trolling our dull neighbourhoods.

Cell Tower at Pride

This cell phone tower at Pride Elementary School was put up without prior notification to parents. It stands like a chisel in the eye of truth and a totem of deception. If Poets write about everything, then this:


The Cell Tower at Pride

It might have been after she fell
And hit her head. But she returned
In time for the show—and the farmer
Spouse who came with a towering
Knife: why wait for one-a-day?
School Board’s not wood—sawdust
Glued together—Gut schools.
Web the sky. Deceive flags and crosses.
Imitate pines. Radiate palms and pupils
Who dare to look or question the folly
Of slaying the goose for investors’ eggs
Scrambled—like children’s minds—
In RF Radiation, in principals' fibs

In a Board's uncaring--intransigence,

You say, it was after she hit her head...

© Sasenarine Persaud

Author Event Barnes & Noble

Authors Jeff Lipkes, Sasenarine Persaud, and Mark Russo at author event on Jan 10, 2009. Barnes & Noble at Wiregrass.

Book signing Barnes and Noble

In a Boston Night - Book signing on January 10, 2009 at the New Tampa Barnes and Noble bookstore. Photo by Kshanika Persaud.