We Almost Lost Kiev (for Gil Scott Heron)
They pass out iodine tablets
As the people stand in lines
It inspires the children’s questions
(“What’s that?”)
As mama swallows it and cries.
But no one stopped to think about the children
Or how they will survive.
Or how they will survive.
And we almost lost Kiev
This time.
But how will we ever get over
Losing our minds?
Losing our minds?
Same country as Chernobyl
Where we lost our minds one time.
Another power station
Another inhuman crime.
Will they stop to think about the people?
And how they will survive.
And we almost lost Kiev
This time.
How will we ever get over
Losing our minds?
The President of Ukraine
Has disasters on his mind.
Has disasters on his mind.
And what would Gil Scott Heron say to us?
I mean…
…If he were still alive.
When it comes to global safety
Money wins out every time.
Money wins out every time.
And we almost lost Kiev
This time.
Well how will we ever get over
Losing our minds?
Already lost Fukushima
one time.
Odds are we’ll lose again.
Next time.
Saw my mother’s hair.
This time.
Long Silver strands of her hair.
This time.
Melting in the wind.
This time.
Too fragile to be touched.
This time.
Got me feeling blue.
This time.
Joni Mitchell Blue.
This time.
Yves Klein Blue.
This time.
Shadow black and blue.
This time.
Nagasaki shadows.
This time.
Still waiting for a Trane.
This time
Coltrane saw those shadows.
One time.
Called for A Love Supreme.
That time.
We still lost Chernobyl.
One time
And Three Mile island.
That time.
Going to lose somewhere else.
Next time.
Lose someone else we love.
Next time.
Didn’t learn our lesson!
Three times!
Fourth time is the charm?
Next time?
Well, how will we ever get over
Losing our minds?
(By Heidi Lindemann and Michael Perry)
(Image Credit 1: Dana Kavelina, “We are all tied now” (Exit to the Blind Spot Series) / Fridman Gallery)
(Image Credit 2: Dana Kavelina, “from the threads of silence a pullover for a soldier is sewn” (Exit to the Blind Spot Series) / Fridman Gallery)