BURNING OUR BRIDGES

Burn baby burn
the flames leap into the sky
day or night
feel the heat
see the light

We keep burning the bridges
and villages
and hardening hearts
burn baby burn

When George Washington's army
entered the country of the Six Nations (Iroquois)
the Seneca called him Hanadaguyus
means “Town Destroyer”
the name destroyer still lives
sailing the empire's sea lanes
burn baby burn

Wounded Knee,
Philippines, Korea,
Vietnam,
Dominican Republic, Panama
Nicaragua, El Salvador,
Guatemala,
Granada, Haiti
Iraq,
Afghanistan, Iraq again
Yugoslavia, Libya, Syria, Pakistan,
Ukraine
burn baby burn

The flame of 'exceptionalism'
and arrogance
never goes out
it just moves on to another village
burn baby burn

We are burning our bridges
isolated from the true spirit
of humanity
once linked to our earth mother
our connection is broken
and charred

Don't tell me this!
Don't force my eyes onto these flames!
There is a cost to knowing
and a bigger cost to acting
Leave me in my 'innocent' state

Yes my soul hurts
but I can manage
by staying in the shadows
while the fires rage
burn baby burn