an old poem
a new meaning
HITLER IS NOT DEAD
for Steve Biko
Hitler is not dead
he’s swimming in the harbors
of Nicaragua
Hitler is not dead
he’s building settlements
on the West Bank
Hitler is not dead
he’s razing villages
in El Salvador and Afghanistan
Hitler is not dead
Hitler is not dead
Hitler is not dead
he’s in New York
shooting youths on the subway
Hitler is not dead
he’s preaching a creed
in a church in northern Idaho
Hitler is not dead
he runs a tenement
in South Central L.A.
Hitler is not dead
Hitler is not dead
Hitler is not dead
he’s on channels 2, 4, and 7
rambling on about
heart transplants
and homeless transplants
and homelands in South Africa
Hitler is not dead
he’s beneath the gloss
of Time magazine
Hitler is not dead
he’s located on your F.M. dial
Hitler is not dead
Hitler is not dead
Hitler is not dead
his seed is in
Nestle’s formula
Hitler is not dead
he banks on
B of A
Hitler is not dead
he’s the head of
the U.S. Olympic team
Hitler is not dead
Hitler is not dead
Hitler is not dead
he rides the tongues
of Evangelicals
Hitler is not dead
he’s a missionary
in Ethiopia
Hitler is not dead
he’s a member of
the Peace Corps
Hitler is not dead
Hitler is not dead
Hitler is not dead
he’s a alive and well and living in Mexico
he’s a alive and well and living in Chile
he’s a alive and well and living in Poland
he’s a alive and well and living in Iran
he’s a alive and well and living in Israel
he’s a alive and well and living in Washington
he’s a alive and well and living in your heart
Oh no no no
Hitler is not dead
–from deMOCKracy (Plain View Press, 2007)
© 2016 Mike Maggio
