Let It Not Be In Vain (In Memory Of Brother Botham Jean)

Botham Jean was a member of the Church Of Christ as am I. From all accounts he was a faithful member and a wonderful person full of love. His death is beyond sorrow it is a tragedy. Botham Jean was gunned down in his own home. He did no crime or nothing wrong at all. The question is will the murderer go to jail? She is a police officer. But you can help forge the future by your own actions. Let your voice be heard. The death of Botham Jean, let it not be in vain. 

Let It Not Be In Vain (In Memory Of Brother Botham Jean)

By John Kaniecki

With saddest sorrow

I must say

That the news became real today

The statistic on the chart

Was a piece of my heart

My brother Botham Jean

I had done no wrong

Committed no crime

I was in my own home

Passing time

When I was gunned down

To their shame

They slander my name

Trying to cast the blame

That I should take the fall

I who did no wrong at all

Jesus says ‘vengeance is mine’

I believe in the divine

But this is a world of laws

And justice is my cause

Shall the system fail?

Or will righteousness prevail?

There is nothing more that I can do

My fate is up to you

For if my murderer goes free

The killer who was at fault

The killings they will not halt

Do more than feel your pain

My death, my life

Let it not be in vain

“Whatever ye have done to the least of them”

“So have ye done unto me”

For all around planet Earth

To each child given birth

They deserve compassion and love

That is pleasing to God above

Endless war, colonial oppression

Listen to the mighty lesson

There is no neutral ground

Where are you found?

Are you a friend to the poor?

Or a wicked man lusting for more?

This genocide by the police

This constant lynching it must cease

To be gunned down in your own home it is insane

Let it not be in vain

May my death be a spark

To ignite a flame in this world so dark

And to Almighty God we shall turn

And the lessons of Love learn

No matter rich or poor

Black, yellow, red or white

We are equal in God’s sight

Even to those who wear the blue

The law applies to you

From the grave I cannot personally explain

My death it is full of sorrow

I have not one more tomorrow

Let it not be in vain


For similar poetry please check out "Poet To The Poor, Poems Of Hope For The Bottom One Percent"

. 

From A to Z 2012 'Z'

From A to Z in 2012

And so we end the year 2012 poetically with the letter ‘Z’. I hoped that you enjoyed the journey!

Zakira the Butterfly

By John Kaniecki

Zakira

Why do you like the butterfly?

Is it the way they fly?

Their colors so pretty?

Their great beauty?

I don’t know why

I just like the butterfly

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

From A to Z 2012 'Y'

From A to Z in 2012

When I was visiting Grenada my wife and I came across a bookstore.  It was there in the Caribbean that I purchased the complete works of Derek Walcott. Upon reading the poetry after returning home I was not impressed.

Perhaps there are poems of his that will prove this statement wrong but I don’t think Derek Walcott was a man for the people. In his poems, I see no works of passion for the civil rights movement that was shaking the core of American society.  It is like Emily Dickinson’s work being void of the Civil War. The events were too large to not be passionately swept away like a raging river in flood stage, as a man of ‘color’ Derek Walcott should have been using his talents for the betterment of all people. Instead, he saw the ocean.

You Saw the Ocean (Dedicated to Derek Walcott)

By John Kaniecki

You saw the ocean

Blue, green, white-capped waves in motion

You learned stories of the educated

Sons of the slave masters you hated

I have walked barefoot upon Caribbean hot white sands

I have talked to the people of your islands

I know their names and have heard their story

We shared our Love with all our glory

Also I am intimate with your time

Where you choose free verse over rhyme

An endless war raged in futility

Your own kinsmen struggled to rise from humility

Crucifying every human emotion

You saw the ocean

Where was your cry for justice?

Passionate pleas persuading righteousness

Instead in an alabaster tower

You gazed out the window hour after hour

Life roared crashing on the beach loud as thunder

For you not to hear the oppressed, how I wonder?

A pretty, nice, sentimental notion

You saw the ocean

Please investigate, purchase, read and enjoy my books of poetry. 

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

From A to Z 2012 'X'

From A to Z in 2012

I vividly recall in 2012 that I cheated on this poem. No, I am the author; it is just that I do not believe that this was written in the year 2012. I have doubt because this is a song lyric and not a poem. However, I needed something for the letter ‘X’.

Pornography is of course abusive. There are extremes in the sex industry. From the ‘fully accepted’ singer twerking in her video to the most sadistic sexual encounters. Either way, the common factor is selling flesh for money. I pass no judgment on the actresses or even the actors. The real villains I suppose are those who make the movies and watch them.

I think the greatest danger of pornography is divorcing sex from humanity. That the actresses that we so lustfully watch, fulfilling our fantasies are something other than human. That they are simply pieces of meat for our entertainment. Like dehumanizing the enemy we dehumanize the porn star.

XXX

Got an injection of silicone

Come on honey I know you can moan

You can go weep right after the scene

Your royalty a righteous porn queen

Sex and sex and sex

Welcome to triple x

Dope and coke

This ain’t no joke

Show some respect

This is triple x

Racy Traci that’s your brand new name

Fifteen minutes of fortune and fame

On the bed then rolling on the floor

Five men then you beg them for some more

Let me tell you the truth here’s the score

You're an exploited underpaid whore

Sex and sex and sex

Welcome to triple x

Dope and coke

This ain’t no joke

Show some respect

This is triple x

Rahab the prostitute was saved by faith divine

Read the lineage she was in the Savior’s line

I throw no stones darkness is still a friend

Every now and then in my mind I still pretend

Hold on sister hold on through night’s illusion

The pens on the page we write our own conclusion

Is it real honestly tell the truth

To sell the sacred flower of your youth

If you had wishes one, two and three

Is it your desire to be set free

Sex and sex and sex

Welcome to triple x

Dope and coke

This ain’t no joke

Show some respect

This is triple x

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

From A to Z 2012 'W'

From A to Z in 2012

The world needs change and not only change but revolutionary change. We need a paradigm shift away from materialism to spirituality. Who will lead the revolution? Please don’t associate violence with revolution that is a grand mistake. We can change the world by changing ourselves. We can say no and resist in our own world by being kind and considerate to our fellow man. 

Who Will Lead the Revolution?

By John Kaniecki

Who will lead the revolution?

Not I cried the politician

I’ve surrendered my morals for ambition

Nor me the general did declare

I take orders, from whom I don’t care

Don’t look at us cried the businessmen loudly

All we care about is money

Forget our group preached the minister

We steal souls, we’re far too sinister

No we say, said the movie stars

We just care for glitz and fancy cars

The Ph.D.’s replied no with a letter of ink

For scholars do nothing but think

So the poet he stood alone in the crowd

And read these words out loud

Who will lead the revolution?

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

From A to Z 2012 'V'

From A to Z in 2012

My voice is not heard around the world. Perhaps in certain circles, I have influence but I am far from a household name. My art production is presently stalled as I question my talent and my future. Inspiration is a fleeting twinkle of a star whereas once it was a supernova. If I never wrote another piece I would be satisfied and I am thankful to God for the opportunity to write.

Perhaps it is because I have nothing to say. Perhaps it is because my wife’s condition is very demanding and it drains me. Most likely it is my lack of financial success sucking out motivation. But I have a massive amount of material; I have “Voices From Before.” It is ironic how this poem takes on an autobiographical aspect six years later. \

One day I will be free, of that I am certain. 

Voices From Before

By John Kaniecki

There are words

Down the ages

Burned books, pillaged pages

From poets true

You never knew

Forgotten

I seek to be that voice

To tell the world

To be a herald

That there is a choice

It has been said before

Though those words are no more

It will be said in years ahead

When Babylon is dead

In ashes gray

You will hear speak

You will hear them say

Freedom

Freedom

Those voices from before

They call once more

FREEDOM!!!

Please investigate, purchase, read and then thoroughly enjoy my poetry books!

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here