Poems by Joe Navarro

The Enemy

If the enemy

Is Black

Brown

Native

Asian

Immigrant

Muslim

Jewish

Women

Trans

Lesbian

Gay

Bi

Feminists

Intellectuals

Teachers

Socialists

Multiculturalists

Liberals

Environmentalists

Water protectors

Land defenders

Houseless people

Unionists

Workers

Peace activists

Convicts

Ex-convicts

…Who’s left?

©️ 2022 Joe Navarro

Prayers Alone

Families cry

Hearts ache

Mourning for

Children’s sake

Especially when

Children die

Bloodshed reigns

Money feigns

To care

As long

As money

Keeps growing

While blood

Keeps flowing

Don’t do

Anything more

Than pray

Profits versus

Human lives

Even when

Children die

Telling the

Same lie

Guns don’t

Take lives

Just make

Sure that

Money thrives

Sacred rites

Killing rights

Emblazoned in

A tradition

Don’t touch

The profits

Just pray

Pray, pray

Where is

The action?

Especially when

Children die

Even though

Prayers alone

Feel like

Another lie

When again

The bloodshed

Flows freely

Schools become

Hunting grounds

Angry hands

Too easily

Wrapped around

Death tools

Will as

Long as

Money rules

© 2022 Joe Navarro

Background Checks

To buy a gun

While you’re at it

Check deep

Check wide

What have they

Got to hide?

Look under sheets

Especially with hoods

Look under benches

Under the rugs

Check for bruised

Wives’ faces

Check for rope burns

On calloused hands

Check speech

For “n” words

Listen for “injuns”

Is “spic” a word?

Are Asians Americans?

Watch out for MAGAs

Proud Boys

Minutemen

Militias

Karter’s Kar Kare

Karen’s Kountry Kitchen

Klan Anon

Q Anon

Symbols

White supremacy

Is there rage?

Is hate wrapped

In red, white and blue?

Is hue death free speech?

Background…check

Check deep

Check wide

What have they

Got to hide?

©️ 2022 Joe Navarro

Joe Navarro is a creative writer who enjoys writing poetry, teacher, parent, and grandparent and has been an activist for human rights, political rights, and social justice for oppressed people. His poetry is inspired by people’s struggles for human dignity, family, self-determination, liberation, democracy, peace, and preserving our Mother Earth. He has authored seven chapbooks of poetry, has been included in eight literary anthologies and journals, and has been featured in three educational publications. Joe can be reached at poetajoe@yahoo.com.

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