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July 24, 2007

Tuesday

Stolen Property

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“Be smart, Son. Don’t be a dummy like Javarius Johnson.”

“Who’s that, Dad?”

“Javarius lived over in the projects. When his neighbors moved out, Javarius stole the dryer from their unit. Dragged it to his place, I guess thinkin’ he’s gonna find the Promised Land sellin’ tumble dry to folks for a dollar a load.”

“He got in the laundry business?”

“Nah, Son. He found the Promised Land when he lit a cigarette and blew the whole building up. Killed him and put 18 families homeless cause he forgot to cap the gas line when he took the dryer out.”

Posted by: Barb at July 24, 2007 2:38 PM · Permalink

“The hospital needs a new research center” they said.

They took my farm, my home.

“Fair market value, eminent domain,” were their words.

The Boston Malaine Cancer Research Center.

“Nothing can be done, she’s not breathing on her own,” and the machines stopped.

They took my wife of forty years.

“Cancer” they said, “Will you donate her body to science?”

Twenty five years they’d spent, on my land, researching.

“Would you like a county burial?”

Twenty five years I’d spent dreaming of my land, and praying for my family buried there.

“Or a cremation?”

Twenty five more I’ve spent, weeping.

Posted by: kipp at July 24, 2007 5:24 PM · Permalink