America is a space program

They tell you they were gifts  
Stolen obelisks and lady liberty
But America is all games and
grift  
How dare they call it a pyramid 
scheme

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America is a space program 

There are no eggs  
There are no baskets

Only cages / Guns and
nickel-plated Gold 
Toxic mold

What wont you
buy or sell  
when there’s nothing left

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America is a ssspace program 

slippin and slidin in my mind got me ssolipsisising so close to the solstice 
got me sizing and singing synthesizing the slanging and singeing 
booming and bangin of my  
people so close and so far away

dont you know empires make arabs and arabs make space

in the sand for scarabs to sow futures so rich you can keep mining us through and
through eternity and never understand the meaning of infinity

we already wrote it all and called that maktub  
what you might call destiny

hanshouf hanshouf 
we’ll see and you’ll see 
we got there first 
that’s why your language [of progress] lacks efficiency 

build your space program 
so you can [try to] see what we see

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We are we are we are responsible 
                                                           after Harryette Mullen

Formatted Poem
we are we are responsible for your lost and/or stolen relatives. we can and should guarantee
your safety even if you disobey our instructions. we absolutely endorse the causes or claims of
people begging for handouts. we do not reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. your ticket
does guarantee that we will honor your reservations. in order to facilitate our procedures, please
do not limit your carrying on. before taking off, please do not extinguish all smoldering
resentments. you will need those upon landing. if you understand English, you will be moved
out of the way for those who do not. in the event of a loss, we will look out for you. your
insurance was upgraded because we must find a way to handle your frightfull claims. our
handlers found your luggage and we have also found the key to your legal case!!! you were
detained for a fitting because you said yes! to the dress to the distress. presumed indeed you are
to be innocent if the police have no reason to suspect you are carrying a concealed wallet. it is
in fact our fault you were born wearing a gang color. we take full responsibility for all that is
broken within you. it is our obligation to inform you of your rights and benefits of being ALIVE.
step aside, please, while we eliminate all officers and bad attitudes. we have no rights that you
are bound to respect because we trust you understand the meaning of what it means to have
rights. please remain calm, while we are held responsible for everything. everything. everything.

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America is a space program













                   who illegible  












                                                       who transcendent






                                                                                                                                              




                                                                                       as illeg*ble as the gangcolor iwasborn wearing
                                                                                         as transcendent as the gods i descended from 

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America is a space program 

yet another of the test rockets explodes

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its pieces and fuel falling

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then spilling into the sea as the poet seats

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herself with intention 

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to go within 

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the poet breathes 

a long inhale 

and sharp exhale 

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holding the tension 

she releases a breathfull  

an exchange

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and the poet is grateful

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grateful

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for space

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* The series, “America is a space program,” is dedicated in memory of Georgiana Pickett, artist, activist, mentor, and ancestor.

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