the poetry of politics

microcosm of our madnesses-survivalist songs
swinging between eccentric Beats bongo blackclad
and rightwing Pound,fascist Stein.Immersion in times
of war and persecution might presume poets as agents of change
Logic has nothing to do with poetry-or politics
Awards go to cliques,clans cunning  cabals
rarely to those few bright lights exuding humanity's best impulses
(excluding recent Nobel awardees,and Soviet dissidents)
Cuban poets imprisoned might seek Amnesty International before PEN
Patronage secures visas faster than poems.It is who you know-
as in film,art,song-peer groups crown their own.
Mad Blake pilloried.Villon same.Bukowski defamed.
Those clinging to the petticoats of power know their names
Anonymous wrote better,and has no fame.
Posthumous is forgotten.Little lights still shine -
Huffstickler,Bright,Akers..say their names.Recite their greatest poems!