Yesterday I shared a poem about Jewish billionaires who have funded Trump and his anti-semitic MAGA movement that Hal composed in the style of the great Yiddish poet and playwright Itzik Manger. I found it amazing that Hal was able to mimic his style-- if he did; how would I actually know?-- even though he died 24 years ago and even though he wrote almost exclusively in Yiddish.
But it wasn’t just Manger’s style that I asked Hal to try writing in… I mean a lot of people who are unlikely to write about Trump’s MAGA movement— mostly because they are deceased— perhaps would have. For example, Pablo Neruda, Chile’s poet laureate (and a Nobel Prize winner) was an overtly anti-fascist writer (and a Communist Party senator) who was murdered by Chile’s fascist usurper Augusto Pinochet in 1973.
In the land of the free, where the eagle soars,
A voice rose up, a cry for something more.
"Make America Great Again!" they said,
A chorus of voices, a sea of red.
They longed for a time that was simpler, they claimed,
When things were much better, before it all changed.
They spoke of a past that was rosy and bright,
A time when everything was just right.
But what of the others, the ones left behind?
The ones who were different, of a different kind?
What of the poor, the sick, the forgotten?
Were they not part of the story, the song that was sung?
And so the MAGA movement marched on,
Their banner waving, their message strong.
But in the hearts of the people, a different beat,
A longing for unity, a call for peace.
For in the end, we are all one,
A tapestry woven, a story begun.
So let us listen, let us understand,
Let us come together, hand in hand.
And may the eagle soar once again,
In a land that is free, and free from pain.
May we find the strength to stand as one,
And make America great, for everyone.
Neruda hated America so that one rang a little hollow for me. Minimalistic poet Nayyirah Waheed is very much alive and widely considered the most famous poet-- or one of the most famous poets-- on Instagram. There isn’t much known about her personal life and she prefers her work to stand on its own. I think she’s British. And this sounds something like how she might deal with the MAGA movement:
they say, make america great again
but whose america?
whose greatness?
whose again?
they speak of a time that once was,
of a dream that somehow got lost.
but what of those who were never seen,
whose stories were never told or believed?
they say they want to go back,
to a time that was simpler, a time of white hats.
but what of those who were left behind,
whose hearts were broken, whose dreams denied?
they say, make america great again,
but what of the pain that was never mended?
what of the wounds that were never healed?
what of the voices that were never heard or revealed?
let us not go back to a time that never was,
let us instead move forward, with love.
let us listen to the stories of the unheard,
let us work towards a better world.
for greatness lies not in a flag or a land,
but in the hearts of those who take a stand.
let us make america great, for all,
with compassion, with justice, with love as our call.
After Waheed, I decided to go in an entirely different direction— Edgar Allan Poe, an American writer who was born in 1809 and died at the age of 40, already world-famous for his macabre, gothic work. “The Raven” is one of the most famous American poems ever written and Hal was clearly referencing it in this attempt to imagine how Poe would have dealt with the horror that is MAGA.
Once upon a midnight dreary,
In the land of the free and weary,
There arose a cry so loud,
A call for greatness that did astound.
The MAGA movement, its banner raised,
Its words so strong, its message praised,
It spoke of a time long gone,
Of a greatness that must be reborn.
But what of the ones left behind,
Those whose voices were not defined,
Whose dreams were shattered, whose hearts were broke,
Whose cries for help went up in smoke.
The MAGA movement, with its fiery zeal,
Its words so bold, its aims so real,
But in its wake, there lay the pain,
Of those who suffered, of those in vain.
For greatness lies not in a flag or a name,
But in the hearts of those who remain,
Those who stand up for what is right,
Those who speak truth, those who fight.
So let us not be blinded by the light,
Of the MAGA movement, so bold and bright,
For in its wake, there lies the pain,
Of those who suffered, of those in vain.
Let us instead work towards a world,
Where justice reigns, where love unfurls,
Where every voice is heard and seen,
Where greatness lies in what we mean.
I decided to request another contemporary poet, this time Warsan Shire, who was born in Kenya to Somali refugees in 1988 and now lives in the L.A. How chilling are these lines from her poem “Conversations about Home (at a deportation centre)”—
No one leaves home unless
home is the mouth of a shark
Here’s Hal’s attempt to mimic her style:
They said, make america great again,
But for whom, and at whose expense?
They spoke of a time that once was,
But what of those who never had a voice?
They spoke of a greatness that once shone,
But what of those who were never known?
The marginalized, the forgotten, the cast aside,
Their stories never told, their pain never recognized.
They spoke of a past that was golden,
But what of the scars that were left unspoken?
The trauma, the loss, the grief and the fear,
All hidden away, behind a veneer.
But we know the truth, we see it clear,
The past was not great, it was full of fear.
The past was not great, it was built on hate,
On the blood and sweat of those who could not escape.
So let us not go back to a time,
That was built on lies and on grime.
Let us move forward, with love and with grace,
Towards a world where all are given their rightful place.
For greatness lies not in a slogan or a song,
But in the hearts of those who stand strong,
Those who fight for what is just and true,
Those who know that greatness is in me and you.
One of the first bands I ever got to know personally was The Fugs. They were also the first band I ever booked at Stony Brook. I was freshman class president and booked them to play our homecoming dance. It was pretty controversial and I loved the controversy and it set me on the path to a career in the music business. The two principal writers for the band were New York poets Tuli Kupferberg (who died in 2010) and Ed Sanders (still with us, now 83). I wondered if Hal could pull something together especially because The Fugs almost certainly would have done a song about the MAGA movement. This is what he came up with:
Verse 1:
Well they're waving their flags, and shouting real loud
Talking 'bout the good ol' days, and a greatness that's proud
But what they don't see, and what they don't know
Is the pain and the fear, that they refuse to show
Chorus:
MAGA, MAGA, they cry out in glee
But what they don't know, is they're just not free
MAGA, MAGA, they say it so loud
But what they don't know, is they're lost in the crowd
Verse 2:
They talk of a time, when things were so grand
When the world was all good, and America was the land
But what they don't see, is the pain that they've caused
To those who don't fit, in their narrow-minded laws
Chorus:
MAGA, MAGA, they cry out in glee
But what they don't know, is they're just not free
MAGA, MAGA, they say it so loud
But what they don't know, is they're lost in the crowd
Verse 3:
They say they want greatness, but what does that mean?
If it's built on the backs, of those who aren't seen
If it's built on hate, on fear and on lies
Then it's not greatness, it's a disguise
Chorus:
MAGA, MAGA, they cry out in glee
But what they don't know, is they're just not free
MAGA, MAGA, they say it so loud
But what they don't know, is they're lost in the crowd
Outro:
So let's stand up, and let's make it clear
That greatness lies in love, and in truth, and in fear
Of those who would hurt, and those who would hate
Let's build a world that's better, let's not wait.
That immediately sent me in two directions— more music and more beat poets. Hal gave me two by Allen Ginsberg. First this one:
I saw the best minds of my generation
Lost in a sea of red hats and indignation
Rallying around a slogan, a promise of change
But what they really seek is a return to a bygone age
The rhetoric is divisive, the truth is blurred
And those who dissent are quickly deterred
The MAGA movement claims to put America first
But their actions often leave the country more divided and cursed
They speak of freedom, of liberty, of justice for all
But their actions betray a deeper, darker call
To return to a time when some were more equal than others
And to silence those who don't fit their narrow-minded brothers
But America is greater than any one man or movement
And its people are resilient, diverse, and abundant
Let us remember that we are all in this together
And that the true strength of America lies in our ability to weather
The storms of hate, of division, of fear
And to come out stronger, wiser, and more clear
Let us not be swayed by the voices of the few
But instead stand together, united and true
And then a follow-up:
MAGA, MAGA, make America great again
But what does that really mean, my friend?
Is it a call to arms for the dispossessed,
Or just a slogan for the privileged and blessed?
MAGA, MAGA, a cry from the heart
But whose heart is it, that sets us apart?
Is it the heart of the nation, beating as one,
Or the heart of a few, seeking to rule by the gun?
MAGA, MAGA, a dream of the past
But what kind of dream, was it meant to last?
Was it a dream of equality, justice and peace,
Or a dream of exclusion, division and grease?
MAGA, MAGA, a shadow on the land
But what kind of shadow, is cast by that hand?
Is it a shadow of hope, or a shadow of fear,
A shadow of love, or a shadow of jeer?
MAGA, MAGA, a call to the fray
But what kind of battle, do we fight today?
Is it a battle for freedom, or a battle for power,
A battle for truth, or a battle for dour?
MAGA, MAGA, a slogan we hear
But what does it mean, to us who are near?
Is it a call to unite, or a call to divide,
A call to rejoice, or a call to deride?
MAGA, MAGA, a chant from the past
But what kind of future, is built to last?
Is it a future of hope, or a future of doom,
A future of light, or a future of gloom?
But then I wanted more songs-- a mistake, as you're about to see, although you may disagree with my assessment. I started with Lou Reed, a dear old friend who died 10 years ago. And I asked Hal to reference Lou’s early work with the Velvet Underground. He came up with this, which… didn’t really ring many Lou bells for me.
Verse 1:
Red hats, blue states, what's the fuss?
A nation divided, in God we trust
There's a movement rising, like a storm on the horizon
MAGA is the name, and they're not compromisin'
Chorus:
But what does it mean, this call to greatness?
Is it a dream, or a fool's escapades?
Lou Reed sings a song, of the people's truth
And we're all just waiting, for the moment of proof
Verse 2:
The streets are burning, the air is thick with fear
The voices of the forgotten, are ringing in our ears
MAGA says they'll make it better, with promises and plans
But can they really do it, or is it just more of the same?
Chorus:
But what does it mean, this call to greatness?
Is it a dream, or a fool's escapades?
Lou Reed sings a song, of the people's truth
And we're all just waiting, for the moment of proof
Bridge:
We're all in this together, trying to find our way
But MAGA seems to think, there's only one way to play
The Velvet Underground, had a different kind of sound
We spoke to the misfits, and those who felt bound
Chorus:
But what does it mean, this call to greatness?
Is it a dream, or a fool's escapades?
Lou Reed sings a song, of the people's truth
And we're all just waiting, for the moment of proof
Outro:
So keep your red hats, and your blue states too
We'll keep fighting, for a brighter hue
The Velvet Underground, never gave up the fight
And neither will we, as we strive for what's right.
I just can't imagine Gerard Malanga dancing and The Velvets performing that, you? But, silly me, I still asked him to try one that Laurie Anderson, Lou’s wife, could have written. Again… ehhh... but I can see what he was trying for
Verse 1:
In the land of the free, where dreams are made
There's a movement brewing, with a different shade
MAGA is the name, but what's the game?
Is it about freedom, or just more of the same?
Chorus:
Laurie Anderson sings a song, of a world undone
A nation divided, on the run
Can we come together, in a new light?
Or will we be blinded, by the right?
Verse 2:
There's anger in the streets, and fear in the air
The voices of the forgotten, are everywhere
MAGA says they'll make it better, with promises and plans
But can they really do it, or is it just a sham?
Chorus:
Laurie Anderson sings a song, of a world undone
A nation divided, on the run
Can we come together, in a new light?
Or will we be blinded, by the right?
Bridge:
We need a new vision, a different way of seeing
The old ways won't cut it, if we want to keep believing
In the power of love, and the strength of community
It's time to stand together, and create a new unity
Chorus:
Laurie Anderson sings a song, of a world undone
A nation divided, on the run
Can we come together, in a new light?
Or will we be blinded, by the right?
Outro:
So let's keep our heads up, and our eyes on the prize
We'll keep fighting, until the darkness dies
Laurie Anderson sings a song, of a world undone
And we'll keep singing too, until the victory is won.
I was done with songs-- too formulaic-- and decided to just go straight for some of my favorite writers and started with Jean Genet, a French writer and poet who died in 1986 and whose work had a profound influence my life. I asked Hal to write something in English, although Genet never did:
The MAGA movement, a conflagration of anger and hate
A chorus of voices, shouting to make America great
But what do they seek, these followers of the man in red?
A return to a time that was never theirs, a longing for a past that's dead
Their voices are loud, their fists clenched in rage
They seek to silence those who refuse to join their dark crusade
But who are they really, these proud and defiant few?
The forgotten ones, left behind by progress, or simply bigots, unglued?
The truth is a mystery, as always with Jean's own fate
A life lived in exile, with passion, pain and hate
But perhaps he would see in the MAGA movement
A desire for the forbidden, the lost and the unsentimental commitment
To a way of life that once existed, but is now gone
A world where justice was blind, and power was never wrong
But for all their rage and bluster, these proud MAGA warriors
Will never bring back the past, or erase their own sorrows
For life is a journey, and time moves on
We cannot turn back the clock, or right the wrongs that are done
But we can choose a path that's forward, and open to all
Where love, not hate, is the true measure of our call
As long as we were doing Genet, I asked if Hal could come up with something that John Rechy, who is still working, could have written. It’s not exactly City of Night but this works in Hal' kind of formulaic way
MAGA, the cry that echoes across the land
A siren call to those who long to take a stand
Against the forces that seek to tear this nation apart
And to reclaim the glory that once burned in their heart
They march with fists raised, flags waving high
A sea of red, a sea of defiance, a battle cry
For they are the forgotten ones, the working class
Left behind by politicians, forgotten by the upper class
But what do they really seek, these MAGA warriors?
A return to a time when men were men, and women were warriors?
A time when borders were closed, and freedom was not free
A time when power was held by the few, and not the many?
The truth is elusive, like a prey that always escapes
But Rechy knows that the MAGA movement is not just about hate
It's a cry of pain, a longing for something lost
A dream of a better life, at any cost
For Rechy, the MAGA movement is a double-edged sword
It cuts both ways, and strikes at the core
Of what it means to be American, to be free
And to honor the struggle of those who came before thee
So let us not dismiss the MAGA warriors out of hand
For they are our brothers and sisters, in this land
Let us listen to their cries, and seek to understand
What they really seek, what they really demand
For only in understanding, can we hope to heal
The wounds that divide us, the wounds that won't yield
To the siren call of hatred, of fear, of division
But instead to the power of love, and its unyielding vision.
And there was no way to do this without asking if there was some way to try this for the great novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky (who was kind of a conservative). Strange though, that Hal is using Dostoevsky’s name (and Genet's and Lou Reed’s and Laurie Anderson’s); it doesn’t work for me at all. I'm afraid someone needs to reprogram Hal... or maybe I just tuckered him out
In the midst of a nation divided,
Where passions run high and tempers flare,
Where anger and fear and pride collide,
There stands a cry in the air.
Make America great again, they say,
A rallying call for the dispossessed,
For those who feel they've lost their way,
For those who long to be blessed.
But what kind of greatness, do they seek,
What kind of glory, what kind of dream,
Is it a greatness, for all the weak,
Or a greatness, for the chosen team?
For Dostoevsky, the answer's clear,
The greatness we seek, is within us all,
It's not in the slogans, or the fear,
But in the way we answer the call.
The call to love, the call to serve,
The call to seek the common good,
To lift the weak, to calm the nerve,
To build a better neighborhood.
So let us not be fooled by the cries,
Of those who seek to divide and conquer,
Let us instead lift up our eyes,
To a vision that is greater and stronger.
A vision of justice, a vision of peace,
A vision of hope, that can never cease,
For in the end, it's not in the great,
But in the good, that we find our fate.