Maybe the Poet

Had a good night (well, mostly good. I sort of was in a funk & not really wanting to be around people, so yeah, it was as good of a night as I could expect under the circumstances), hanging out with friends talking about the arts & Calgary & such. Somewhere in the evening, one of the comments made me think of this Bruce Cockburn song & so thought I'd share it here. I like it 'cause it shows the power of words. I still remember this one issue of the "Nth Man" comic written by Larry Hama. It was some sci-fi/war/ninja epic comic book, but there's this scene where old Dr. Yagyu, the ninja dentist, master assassin is being escorted through the tunnels in Vietnam by a couple of U.S. Soldiers after he's assassinated this 'incredibly dangerous' man that was a real threat to the US campaign. One of the soldiers finally asks the Doc what made this guy so dangerous, was he some military leader? political figure? "No", replies Doc Yagyu, "he was a poet."

"Maybe the Poet" by Bruce Cockburn

Maybe the poet is gay
But he'll be heard anyway

Maybe the poet is drugged
But he won't stay under the rug

Maybe the voice of the spirit
In which case you'd better hear it

Maybe he's a woman
Who can touch you where you're human

Male female slave or free
Peaceful or disorderly
Maybe you and he will not agree
But you need him to show you new ways to see

Don't let the system fool you
All it wants to do is rule you
Pay attention to the poet
You need him and you know it

Put him up against the wall
Shoot him up with pentothal

Shoot him up with lead
You won't call back what's been said
Put him in the ground
But one day you'll look around

There'll be a face you don't know
Voicing thoughts you've heard before

Male female slave or free
Peaceful or disorderly
Maybe you and he will not agree
But you need him to show you new ways to see

Don't let the system fool you
All it wants to do is rule you
Pay attention to the poet
You need him and you know it