At the Crossroads

How often have we seen
masters of our world
overturning tables
and breaking bowls!

Today, the time is near at hand
where children will sing 
their ditties about them – 
gleefully, and unafraid

                                 Sept.29, 2010

A Bird Keeper

He feeds it every day
With the crumbs from his table
He says he loves it
and cares for it, o so well
 

Doesn’t he notice
the bars of the cage?
Doesn’t he hear
the bird’s call of protest? 
 

The Schlossgarten, a large downtown park in Stuttgart, before its destruction (Photo by Prius 2. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

                 THREE HUNDRED TREES

                                               “Like the forest, fraternal…”
                                                                   (Nazim Hikmet)

                                                1

                               Three hundred trees – 
                        what are three hundred trees if not
                                  a hindrance?
                         A Hindrance, you say, 
                                   But to what?
                  The head of government says, “to progress”
                        “The sustainability of progress”
                                  she proclaimed
                            and thinks of fast trains
                    “The FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY”
                                  she proclaims
                          and thinks of big projects
                       “Democracy,” she proclaims
                    “The representational process”
                             “Decisions, reached”
                 and now challenged by grass-roots protest
                    She does not see democracy at work
               WHEN TENS OF THOUSANDS
                         OF PEOPLE IN A CITY – 
                  ORDINARY FOLKS, PENSIONERS
            HOUSE WIFES, THEIR KIDS AND HUSBANDS – 
                           TAKE TO THE STREET
                The forces of order, the democratic institutions 
                               ARE THREATENED!
                            So they sent in the police 
               Carted to STUTTGART from all over the country
                 Federal police, northwestern & eastern units
                               came to the southwest
                and with batons, tear gas and pepper-spray
                                  battered the aged
                               middle-aged women
                                    their school-age kids
                   In the cold morning, their water-canons
                               left them soaking-wet
                        From close by, they threw pepper
                                  into their hurting eyes
                             How did they drag people 
                                          away from the trees?
                           WITH WHAT FORCE – 
                                               WHAT VIOLENCE?
                        But the trees the people tried to protect
                                   are only two centuries old 
               PLANTED IN THE GARDEN OF THE KING
                             They survived the last big war
                                    The cold & misery
                                of the year that followed 
                         when people were eager for firewood
                             Now the first have been felled.
                                      The wounded are in hospital. 
                           The peaceful are admonished
                                    by the head of government
                                            to stay peaceful.
                               Progress proceeds, they tell us
                                    And the democratic police 
                       of a democracy that does no longer listen
                                           to the people
                                        has shown its true face:
                               THE OLD ONE – 
                                        AT LEAST AS OLD
                        AS THESE THREE HUNDRED TREES

 
                                               2 

                      No Julia was sitting up in the trees – 
                            No famous writer
                         was camping in their shadow – 
                 with the youngsters and their grandpas
                    when the mob came –  no, the police
                  And they always come in the darkness
                                 nuit et bruillard…
                    So little has changed, over the years…
                     The dance of the batons was danced
                         as they tore down the tents!
                      tossed tear grass smack into faces!
                          pointed the hoses of  water trucks
                             at sleepy humans!
                        It was over, ere at began
                                   the newspapers claim
                      jeering and mocking and speaking of
                              “so-called protectors of trees.”
                   ONE WOUNDED, I LEARNED TODAY
                           they left behind, the violent ones
               for every one of three hundred threatened trees.
                          In jail, a few dozen now – 
                             The youngest of them 
                         a 15-year-old girl, a teenager – 
                           The oldest, just sixty-eight.
                 I know they will call them spreaders of chaos:
                             those who slept peacefully
                                      under the trees.
                             They are just as chaotic
                                         as the trees.
                         So many of them still resist orders
                                    and cling with their roots 
                             to the blood-stained ground
 

                                               3

            WHAT ARE THREE HUNDRED TREES WORTH
                      IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA
     OF A BIG CITY CRAMPED IN BETWEEN HIGH HILLS?
                    Who cares for alleys…corridors
                                    that open a route for the wind?
                 Who wants fresh air in a polluted city?
                             WHO WANTS GREENS?
               Was it in Berkeley in the sixties
                                 when they fought to protect GREENS?
                       HOISTED THE GREEN FLAG
                     NEXT TO THE BLACK AND RED
                           AND FAR ABOVE UNION JACKS
                                 STAR SPANGLED BANNERS
                              AND OTHER NONSENSE
                        The anarchy the poets then embraced
                                  was just love of liberty – 
                            a longing common to all people…
                      Battles for parks can be lost and won
                                        but the longing of the people –
                             their truest buried longing: help to
                                          unearth it, poet! 
                        help the forgetful, the timid, the tamed
                          and lend a voice of comfort to the awake!
                     Today, in Stuttgart, Berkeley is alive again:
               Water canons washed grandmas from the pavement.
                  BUT AN OLD GRANNY SPEAKS HER MIND:
                          I’m already in my seventies, she says
                       But after I’VE SEEN WHAT THEY DID
                                    TO PUSH AHEAD 
                          WITH UNASHAMED SPECULATION,
                       A BIG DOWNTOWN PROPERTY DEAL,
                                   I feel emotions in me 
                               that are not that peaceful anymore
                                    and I thirst for revenge

                      How much I understand you, Grandmother!
                             But our strength lies in our numbers.
                        Our resolution.  Our peaceful protest.
                                      And we’ll teach them a lesson
                                                at the end of the day – 
                        All the bigshots who think they can lord it
                                                 over us
                                  We’ll disempower them – 
                                          for democracy’s sake

                                                                        Oct.1, 2010

The Law in Germany

The trees in Stuttgart
were legally protected;
the train station in Stuttgart
under preservation order
Does both of it count
less than profit?
The federal railroad office 
told Germain Railways Incorporated
it was forbidden to fell the trees,
to demolish the station.
They wanted to check the plans first
Wanted to know what would happen
with all the animals in the park – 
a rare species of bats, among them
But quickly, at dead of night
they proceeded
Tore down a part of the old, protected building
Felled trees
Is it true that the mighty ones 
are allowed to break the law?
But in cold blood
the violator of the law
invokes the law
IS HE SO CERTAIN 
THAT THE DISPENSERS OF JUSTICE
ARE ON HIS SIDE?
                  The peaceful, defending
what is right and proper – 
the trees of their city,
animals,
a historical building – 
they who wanted to protect life
against death – 
memory
against forgetfulness – 
they are called professional demonstrators
by those in high places now!
Five-year-old kids
Kids just twelve
and their grandmothers…
They insult them
They denounce as always
They are shameless
and their arrogance is so vast
that they warn the peaceful
not to be violent
while issuing orders
to club citizens
and to use violence
against the sit-in of pupils,
the peaceful resistance of those
who follow the example of peaceful Ghandi
Yes, even grandmothers are attacked by them
with water hoses
and old men, with sprayed pepper
Hypocrites, they are!
Hypocrites and cynics –
And preach against violence
to those they were beating

                       Oct. 5, 2010
 
 
 

                        In that September 

                          in that September
             when red was blossoming in glowing pride
              and orange was bright and yellow so light
          when wind was stroking leaves
                                          so much amazed
                    and tenderly, the sun god’s rays
                         kissed the last few bits of green
                  almost as if to say good-bye
                           to evenings 
                                     that were already cool
           and filled with premonitions of the coming fall –
                      in that month it was
                when they came, brash thieves
                     and snatched away from us 
                           beauty’s reflection
                         and took our paradise away
                                hoping to leave
                                                   no trace
                                      of such a place
                    that was so free already, from the ugly –
                  and no trace either, of our wish for such a land
                            where batons
                                                   hit no kids and love
                       tomorrow, maybe
                                     would be found
                             so new and free 
                                       to change the world –
                         making it better and more beautiful
                                  so that mankind, sisterly,
                                       would be at peace 
                                            with itself at last
                                 and with our Mother, Earth  

                                                                                 Oct. 7, 2010

 
                              That Night

                      That night they felled 
                           the giant tree – 
                      They don’t respect its age!
                           Don’t see
                                           its beauty!
                   At dead of night they came 
                      tore it out
                                       with the root system!
                  tore it up, so high 
                          with its projecting branches!
                       Out of the midst of its brothers
                                    they took it!
                   They hope to create
                              a gap
                         a giant gap
                   in what surrounded it,
                                                  sisterly.
                     Yes, in that night
                           that cursed night
                   they came and took
                            the biggest of all
                               put it 
                     with branches, trunk, 
                                             all the roots 
                      into the violent shredder
            As if nothing was to proclaim again
                         its beauty –
                                     its magnificent life!
               O – what’s dead 
                                 is dearer to them
                     and they hate the view
                                         of what is alive
                   Bringers of death they are
                             Fast bringers of death
                      Always in a hurry!
                   Always engaged in a hunt !
                       From the windows 
                            of their fast carriages
                 money for the dead is blown away*

                                                     Oct. 7, 2010
 

* In ancient Greece, they put a coin in the mouth of the dead.
    In Taiwan today, taxi-drivers throw paper money printed especially for use by the dead out of the car window when driving fast on hazardous roads.They hope to pacify the ghosts.
    At a time when the global market is extremely volatile and in turbulence, those responsible for the big corporations and their politicians burn dead money in other ways, quite in accordance with the spirit of capitalism – and it’s always life that is sacrificed.
 

                              The Schemers

                                      … the schemers!
                          THEY SUGGESTED A MEDIATOR – 
                             Demanded that the protests should stop!
                       And when the mediator, 
                                           an old man of the
                  “CHRISTIAN”, “CONSERVATIVE” PARTY
                        demanded a general halt
                                                               of everything, 
                                        they agreed.
                           No tricks, please, the old one said.
                       AND THEN HE FACED THE MEDIA – 
                                    television, 
                                                    the press…
                           Construction will be halted, he said
                               No contracts will be awarded
                                     No trees felled, no part 
                        of the remaining building demolished
                              for as long as the talks go on.
                                           O yes, 
                             the native people of America 
                                              have seen that game
                           played a hundred, a thousand times – 
                                 The game of promises 
                                     made to be broken at once.
                  And at once, in the morning news we learned
                              that the old man’s achievement
                                 the “STOP OF ALL CONSTRUCTION” 
                                       had been “STOPPED.”  
                                  THE TRICKSTERS FEEL 
               THEY HAVE OBTAINED WHAT THEY WANTED.
                         THE PEOPLE ARE READY TO TALK.
                              The people are tired of demonstrations
                                         THEY THINK
                                              Mappus and his likes.
                                      MERKEL and the likes of her.
                                  People following in the tracks 
                                                  of tricky Dick.
                               WILL THEIR DOWNFALL BE 
                                                                  AS QUICK?

                           We Need Democracy

                                           "I believe in the religion of love, 
                                whatever direction its caravans may take, 
                                 for love is my religion and my faith." 
                                                                             - Ibn Arabi

                              ...this morning
                                    the delivery man 
                          who brought
                                        cat food, said
                       “Nothing will ever change.”
                     “No matter for whom we vote.”
                   “Up there, at the top, it’s a pig sty.
                             Those who inhabit it
                                  will always be
                               the same kind.”
                        How many years ago, now
                     that I heard the same sentiment
                          expressed by a young man –
                         one of those autoworkers
                       who were on strike in Bochum!
                     “What happens,” he asked me
                       “if you turn a dung heap
                                 upside down?”
                    IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SIMILE – 
                  AN ALLUSION TO REVOLUTION
                      AND THAT IT’S ALWAYS
                    THE SAME SCUM,
                            PEOPLE SEDUCED BY POWER –
                     PEOPLE WHO ELBOW THEIR WAY
                              TO THE TOP
                       WHO REDUCE ALL HOPES
                                TO NOUGHT…
                    I was silent then, a young man
                  instinctively saying no to the trauma
                              of my father -
                        a father so red, as a young man…
                      so courageously resisting the Nazis
                              and then, betrayed
                            by his own comrades – 
                      O yes, men can be weak…
                      they can be discouraged…
              they can turn so selfish if opportunities arise.
                     And yet, I’ve never taken it to be true
                 the cynical saying of ROMAN rulers
                         the wisdom of their philosophers
                              homo hominem lupus
               Man is but a wolve, preying on his own kind
                         DON’T YOU SEE, SISTER
                              DON’T YOU SEE BROTHER
             THAT LOSS OF HOPE IS SELF-DEFEATING
                                      Wake up!
                             Muster your strength!
                        Have confidence in your integrity
                                      And reject
                                         what attempts 
                                                    to seduce you
                Riches. Power over others. Careers. Privilege.
                       The answer to the eternal snares lies in
                                        sisterly love –
                                           respect –
                                       and in sharing.
                           We need no bosses
                                                         up there
                               Not even those who SAY
                               that they are on our side

                                                                    Oct. 8, 2010

*It’s no joke. Abu Ghraib existed. There still is Guantánamo. There were the underground, lightless, and soundproof cells that held prisoners like Ms. Rosenberg, Ms. Baradini, and Ms. Torres. And not - as usual - in Morocco and other dictatorships of the so-called Third World; these political prisoners were held in high security prisons in the USA, in special cells for “subversives”, for “enemies of the state”, enemies of power. They sat in cells reminiscent of those in Stammheim. And there are still people like Julian Assange who are subjected to "white torture" (white torture that supposedly leaves no trace). "Mr. Assange is not a criminal convict and poses no threat to anyone, so his prolonged solitary confinement in a high security prison is neither necessary nor proportionate and clearly lacks any legal basis,” said Nils Melzer, UN Special Rapporteur on torture.” (Source: United Nations official website)

Stuttgart Schlosspark (Photo by Ra Boe. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

          My Poems Lack Allusiveness, They Say   

                             My friends tell me
                   that my poems
                                   lack allusiveness
                      They miss 
                             the slyness of Brecht
                   To proclaim a truth
                                                   openly
                                                              is no good.
                                 No one listens.

                        But who listened to you
                                 all these years,
                                              sly friends?

                      And don’t you see
                           how openly
                    the people take to the streets?
 

                                                        Oct. 8, 2010
 
 

 
Schlossgarten in Stuttgart (Photo by Gert Eichmann. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

                         They Trample

                              ...they trample
                   on our rights, the people’s rights:
                     Spit on democracy.

                    For them, we always were 
                           “the street,” “the mob”…

                It’s so long ago already that they knew
                              how we live.

                      They don’t know how we suffer
                            nor do they care to know.

                      Their world is a different one – 
                                of LUXURY
                             and of SPECULATION.

                They squander the riches of the earth. 
                     Squander, and waste them,
                                   day by day.

                  In their secluded quarters, 
                            their bunker mentality blooms.

                       They are afraid of us.
                                They collect information.

                   Long ago, they fortified the land
                        against us, the population.
                               

                     Their castles are banks.
                         Their citadels – 
                               high security prisons.
                   They dispose of 
                                  an inquisition.
                           Of torture.

                To their meetings, they invite 
                             RESPECTED GENTLEMEN.

             They sit with them, in
                                       council                                               
                         to determine the methods
                              of our suppression.

                It is a feudalism of big corporations
                               that oppresses us.

                      Down,
                          down with it!
                      Smash it for good.
                               

                                     8. Okt. 2010

                                           Why?                                                        
                                                                         
                                 Tried to help teens
                                    in the Munich subway –
                           a man, not so young anymore…
                              Stepped in front of them, 
                            protected those kids
                                               against two thugs
                                 They beat him to death

                   In Stuttgart, another one, present by chance 
                  stepped protectively in front of teenage kids:
                          He, too, quite old already, sixty-six –
                      an engineer who saw how merciless
                            the jet of the water canon ... aggh!
                        He signaled to the cops to stop it
                             as if this could touch their heart
                              and make them wide awake
                     so they would see what they were doing

                         They took him for a target, instead – 
                                 the man who wanted to help…
                                          protect kids…
                                    
                           The jet hit him frontally in the face 
                                A boxer’s punch couldn’t be worse
                      The eyelids are torn
                            The retina probably torn
                                                       the doctor says
                               The lenses of his eyes
                                                     are destroyed

                          How peacefully the cops 
                                 dissolved the sit-in of children!
               washed them away, with all the force of technology

                         Blinded, now, who came to help.
                               What do you tell him?
                            Who is praising his courage?

                               The one who stood up
                              against two thugs merely,
                                   him, you celebrate

                                   and you are silent 
                                  when the other one
                                       faced so many
 

                                                              Oct. 13, 2010
                                                      
                                      
 

                                 When?
                                                
                         It’s only yesterday  
                      that the media 
                                        closed their eyes
                              to the violence of
                   squads of cops taking on
                              the helpless and unarmed – 
            kids and old people, who stubbornly sat down
                              in the streets
                    
          It’s only yesterday that we began to forget
                     what happened in Stuttgart 
               and still,
                            people who are injured
                                    are in hospital – 
              one of them hoping not to go blind, for good...

                  Yet they whom we elected
                         are in a hurry! 
               They debate an act that will demand
                     to punish more severely now
             those who use violence against the police*
                          
                            But when, I ask                  
              will they proceed to write another text
                             into the law books
            that will not condone the misdeeds of cops?
                    
                          And will such a law
                      be more than empty words
                      when one deals, in court,
                              with brutal acts
                    of faithful servants of the state?
                            
                                                              Oct.13. 2010
 

* In Germany, a participant of a sit-in who passively resists attempts of the police to carry him away commits an act of “passive violence.” The police can be rough. Many victims of police violence who have tried to sue the police have risked being accused of a severely punished misdemeanor or crime, that of actively resisting the police (Widerstand gegen die Staatsgewalt). If two police officers testify that you resisted, that suffices and you go to jail. There are very few cases where police officers, guilty of unprovoked violence against demonstrators, have been condemned in court.

            The Prevalent Dialectics

                 The prevalent dialectics
                           still remains 
                 the one that those embrace
                              who still prevail

               First, they hit brave people
                     smack into the face
           and then they let somebody inquire
               whether these folks feel
                    properly protected by them
 

Contributions are welcome.

If published by Urban Democracy, the copyright remains with the author(s).

We thank all the poets, artists, and photographers for the contributions we received for this issue.

Most photos published in this issue without appropriate credit were taken in Enger. They were created by Andreas Weiland (= AW).

The photos showing the poet Gary Geddes and his protest against the destruction of old growth forest in British Columbia (Canada) were taken by his wife Ann.

URBAN DEMOCRACY is published and edited by the Urban Democracy Group.

In order to get in touch, you can send an e-mail to the editors.
Get in touch!
 

This issue was edited by guest editor Karen O. Wittstock
 

In solidarität mit all jenen, die einen großen öffentlichen park
nahe der Stuttgarter innenstadt zu retten suchten

Am Scheideweg

Wie oft haben wir
die HERREN unsrer Welt
Tische umwerfen
und Schüsseln zerbrechen sehn!

Jetzt naht die Zeit 
wo KINDER 
Lieder singen werden, über sie – 
voll Spott, und angstlos

                                   29. Sept. 2010
 
 

Vogelhalter

Er füttert ihn jeden Tag 
Mit den Brosamen von seinem Tisch
Er sagt, er liebt ihn
und sorgt für ihn, o so gut
 

Bemerkt er nicht
die Stäbe des Käfigs?
Hört er nicht
des Vogels Protestruf? 
 

养鸟人

他每天喂它

用他桌上的碎屑

他说他喜欢

并关心它，哦，太好了

他难道没有注意到

笼子的栏杆？

他没听见吗

鸟的抗议声？

                   DREIHUNDERT BÄUME

                                                        „Brüderlich, wie ein Wald...“
                                                                         (Nazim Hikmet)

                                           1

                                Dreihundert Bäume  – 
                     was sind dreihundert Bäume, wenn nicht
                                    ein Hindernis?
                          Ein Hindernis, sagst du,
                                                doch für was?
                    Die Kanzlerin sagt, für den Fortschritt
                          Die Nachhaltigkeit, des Fortschritts!
                                      ruft sie aus
                             und denkt an schnelle Züge
                         Die ZUKUNFT DES LANDES!
                                   ruft sie aus
                              und denkt an Großprojekte
                          Die Demokratie!, ruft sie aus
                     Der repräsentative Prozeß!
                                  Entscheidungen, die fielen
             und die jetzt bedroht sind vom Protest von unten!
                     Sie sieht nicht Demokratie am Werk
                         WENN ZEHNTAUSENDE
                            VON MENSCHEN EINER STADT – 
                     NORMALE LEUTE, RENTNER 
              HAUSFRAUN, IHRE KINDER, EHEGATTEN – 
                           AUF DIE STRASSE GEHN
      Die Kräfte der Ordnung, die demokratischen Institutionen
                                   SIND BEDROHT!
                        Also schickten sie die Polizei
              Gekarrt nach STUTTGART von überall im Land 
           Bundespolizei, nordwestliche & östliche Kräfte
                                kamen in den Südwesten
             Und mit Schlagstöcken, Tränengas und Pfefferspray
                            schlugen sie die Alten!
                       Frauen in den besten Jahren
                            und ihre schulpflichtigen Kinder!
                 In der Kälte des Morgens durchnäßten 
                                Wasserkanonen sie bis auf die Haut
                       Aus nächster Nähe
                                               warfen sie Pfeffer
                           in ihre brennenden Augen
                      Wie zerrten sie die Menschen 
                                                 weg von den Bäumen!
                   MIT WELCHER KRAFT – 
                                                       WELCHER GEWALT!
      Aber die Bäume, die die Menschen zu schützen versuchten
                           sind bloß zwei Jahrhunderte alt
                GEPFLANZT IM GARTEN DES KÖNIGS 
                   Sie überlebten den letzten großen Krieg
                                     Kälte & Elend
                               in dem Jahr das folgte
                  als die Leute scharf war’n auf Brennholz 
                          Jetzt hat man die ersten gefällt.
                     Die Verletzten sind im Krankenhaus.
                              Die Friedfertigen werden ermahnt 
                                        von der Kanzlerin
                                   friedlich zu bleiben.
                   Der Fortschritt geht weiter, sagen sie uns 
                           Und die demokratische Polizei
                     einer Demokratie die nicht länger hört 
                                       auf das Volk
                           hat ihr wahres Gesicht gezeigt:
                                       DAS ALTE – 
                         ES IST MINDESTENS SO ALT
                  WIE DIESE DREI HUNDERT BÄUME

                                           2

                    Keine Julia saß oben in den Bäumen – 
                         Kein Autor von Weltruf
                     kampierte in ihrem Schatten – 
            mit den jungen Leuten und ihren Großvätern 
                    als der Mob kam –  nein, die Polizei
                 Und sie kommen immer im Dunkeln
                              nuit et bruillard…
          So wenig hat sich geändert, in all den Jahren…
              Der Tanz der Schlagstöcke ward getanzt
                     als sie die Zelte niederrissen!
                       Tränengas schleuderten!
          Die Schläuche der Wasserwagen richteten sie
                       auf schläfrige Menschen!
                    Es war vorbei, eh es begann
                                 behaupten die Zeitungen
               Johlen und spotten und sprechen von
                         “sogenannten Beschützern der Bäume”
        EINEN VERWUNDETEN, ERFUHR ICH HEUTE
                 ließen sie kämpfen, mit Schmerzen –
                  die Gewalttäter, die droschen auf jene
      die friedlich kamen aus Sorge um dreihundert Bäume
                   Im Gefängnis jetzt, einige Dutzend – 
                            Die jüngste von ihnen:
                        Ein Teenager, fünfzehn Jahr – 
                     Der älteste, gerad’ achtundsechzig.
        Ich weiß, man wird sie Verbreiter von Chaos nennen:
                       sie, die friedlich schliefen
                                         unter den Bäumen.
                    Sie sind gerad’ so chaotisch
                                                     wie die Bäume.
            So viele von ihnen trotzen noch immer der Order –
                       Klammern sich fest mit den Wurzeln
                                     im geröteten Boden
 

                                           3

              WAS SIND DREIHUNDERT BÄUME WERT
                    IM ZENTRUM EINER GROSS-STADT
          EINGEPFERCHT ZWISCHEN HOHEN HÜGELN?
                Wer gibt schon was für Wege... Korridore... 
                         die Routen öffnen für den Wind?
             Wer will frische Luft in einer belasteten Stadt?
                          WER MÖCHTE GRÜN?
      War’s in Berkeley in den sechziger Jahren
                                       wo sie kämpften, zum Schutz des Grüns?
                   DIE GRÜNE FLAGGE HISSTEN
               NEBEN DER SCHWARZEN UND ROTEN –
                   UND DEUTLICH ÜBER UNION JACKS
                              STAR SPANGLED BANNERS
                                                UND ANDEREM UNSINN...
            Die Anarchie, für die Dichter sich damals erwärmten
                                 war einfach Liebe zur Freiheit  –
                    Sehnsucht, die allen Menschen gemeinsam ist…
                Kämpfe für Parks kann man verlieren oder gewinnen
                            Aber die Sehnsucht der Menschen
                        Ihre wahrste verborgene Sehnsucht: hilf, 
                                       sie an’s Licht zu bringen, Dichter! 
             Hilf den Vergeßlichen, den Ängstlichen, den Gezähmten 
                           Und verleih den Wachen eine Stimme!
                    Heute, in Stuttgart, ist Berkeley wieder lebendig:
                             Wasserwerfer wuschen Omas vom Asphalt.
                       ABER EINE ALTE GROSSMUTTER 
                            NIMMT KEIN BLATT VOR DEN MUND:
                          Ich bin schon über siebzig, sagt sie
                      Doch nachdem ICH SAH WAS SIE TATEN
                                  UM DURCHZUKOMMEN
                            MIT SCHAMLOSER SPEKULATION,
                           NEM GROSSEN INNENSTÄDTISCHEN
                                         IMMOBILIENDEAL,
                                     spür ich  Gefühle in mir
                                die gar nicht mehr so friedlich sind
                                            und will Rache

                           Wie sehr ich dich versteh, Großmutter!
                                Aber unsre Stärke ist unsre Zahl!
                             Entschlossenheit! Friedlicher Protest!
                                 Und wir werden’s ihnen zeigen
                                                        am Ende – 
                            all den Große, die denken, daß sie uns
                                   herumschubsen können
                                    Wir werden sie entmachten – 
                                             Der Demokratie wegen

Das Recht in Deutschland

Die Bäume in Stuttgart 
standen unter Naturschutz
der Bahnhof in Stuttgart
unter Denkmalschutz
Zählt denn beides weniger
als der Profit?
Das Eisenbahnbundesamt verbot
der Deutschen Bahn AG
die Bäume zu fällen
Den Bahnhof abzureißen
Man wollte erst die Pläne prüfen
Wollte wissen, was sein werde
mit all den Tieren im Park – 
seltene Fledermäuse darunter
Doch schnell, bei Nacht und Nebel
ging man vor
Riß einen Teil des alten, geschützten Gebäudes ab
Fällte Bäume
Dürfen denn die Mächtigen
das Recht brechen?
Wie unverfroren aber
spricht der Rechtsbrecher
von Recht
Weiß er die Rechtsprecher
SO SICHER
AUF SEINER SEITE?
Die friedlich verteidigten
was recht und billig – 
die Bäume ihrer Stadt
Tiere
das historische Bauwerk – 
sie, die das Leben schützen wollten
gegen den Tod – 
die Erinnerung
gegen das Vergessen – 
sie also nennen die Oberen jetzt
Berufsdemonstranten!
Fünfjährige Kinder
Zwölfjährige
und ihre Großmütter
Sie beleidigen sie
denunzieren wie früher
sie kennen keine Scham
und ihr Dünkel ist so groß
daß sie die Friedfertigen warnen
vor gewaltsamer Tat
während sie einprügeln lassen
auf Bürger
Gewalt anwenden 
gegen das sit-in von Schülerinnen und Schülern
ihr friedliches Widerstehen
folgend dem Beispiel des friedlichen Gandhi
Ja, sogar Großmütter greifen sie an
mit der Wasserkanone
mit Pfefferspray alte Männer
Heuchler sind sie
Heuchler und zynisch
und warnen die,  die sie schlugen
vor Gewalt

                      5. Okt. 2010
 
 
 Lower part of Stuttgart Schlossgarten. Photo by Ra Boe
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)

                         In jenem September

                           in jenem September
                                     als das Rot erblühte
                Gelb und Orange in seiner warmen Pracht –
                      als Wind die Blätter streifte
                                   voll Erstaunen
                   und sanft der Sonne Glanz
                              das letzte Grün durchdrang 
                       fast wie zum Abschied
                                                   an den Abenden
                              die kühl schon jetzt
                         den nahen Herbst erahnten –
                   in jenem Monat war’s
                                             da kamen sie, die Diebe
                         und stahlen uns der Schönheit 
                                schönen Widerschein
                      und nahmen uns das Paradies
                             daß uns nichts bliebe
                                             so hofften sie
                                 von einem Ort
                           schon frei von Hässlichkeit
                 und auch von jenem Wunsch wohl nichts
                         nach einem Land, wo Hiebe
                      die Kinder schonten und die Liebe
                              in Zukunft, wenigstens
                                        zu finden sei –
                            befreit, und neu bereit
                                      die Welt zu ändern
                          in eine bessre, schön’re auch
                                auf das geschwisterlich
                                      die Menschheit werde
                                 versöhnt mit sich und 
                                    mit der Mutter Erde

                                                              7.Okt. 2010
 

那天晚上   (That Night)

那天晚上，他们砍倒了

             那棵巨树——

他们不尊重它的年龄！

   他们看不到

             它的美丽！

夜深了，他们来了；

他们用它的根系统

                        把它撕掉了！

他们用突出的树枝

          把它撕得高高的！

他们从它的兄弟中

       夺走了那棵树！

他们希望

    在这种兄弟情谊中

制造差距!

           一个巨大的差距!

是的，那天晚上——

    那个受诅咒的夜晚——

他们来了，拿走了

  所有树中最大的树。

    他们把它——

连同它的树枝、树干和所有的根——

   放进了猛烈的碎树机里。

好像没有什么可以再次宣布的

        它的美丽——

             它的壮丽人生！

哦，他们最喜欢

                 死的东西。

 他们讨厌

           一切生长的东西。

他们是死亡的使者——

     死亡的快速使者——

  总是很匆忙！

        总是打猎！

  从他们豪华轿车的车窗，

    为死者献

        祭纸币飘出

                        In jener Nacht

                     in jener Nacht fällten sie
                den riesigen Baum – 
                        Sie achten sein Alter nicht!
                   sehen nicht
                                   seine Schönheit!

             Bei Nacht und Nebel kamen sie
                  rissen ihn heraus
                                 samt Wurzelwerk!
            Rissen ihn hoch
                   mit seinem weitausladenden Geäst!

                    Sie nahmen ihn heraus
                           aus der Mitte der Brüder – 
              Sie hofften, es reißt
                                        ein Loch
                        ein riesiges Loch
                in das, was geschwisterlich 
                                     ihn umgab.

                      Ja, in jener Nacht
                 jener verfluchten Nacht
                    kamen sie und nahmen
                               den größten von allen

                       steckten ihn 
              mit Ästen und Stamm
                             mit seinen Wurzeln
                   in den gewaltigen Schredder

                 So als solle nichts künden
                                     von seiner Schönheit -
                      seinem herrlichen Leben

                    O –  das Tote, 
                              es ist ihnen näher
             und der Anblick des Lebendigen
                                 so verhasst

                   Todbringer sind sie
                                 Schnelle Todbringer
                              Immer in Eile
                         Immer auf der Jagd !

                Aus den Fenstern 
                             ihrer schnellen Gefährte
                       weht Totengeld*

                             Die Intriganten

                            … die Intriganten!
                 SIE SCHLUGEN EINEN VERMITTLER VOR – 
                        Verlangten ein Ende der Proteste!
              Und als der Vermittler, 
                                                 ein alter Mann 
           aus der “CHRISTLICHEN”, “KONSERVATIVEN” PARTEI
                    ein allgemeines Innehalten 
                                                         mit allem verlangte, 
                                  stimmten sie zu.
                     Keine Tricks, bitte, sagte der Alte.
               UND DANN TRAT ER VOR DIE KAMERAS – 
                              des Fernsehens, 
                                                        der Presse…
                         Es gibt einen Bau-Stop, sagte er
                  Man wird keine Bauaufträge erteilen
                       Kein Baum mehr wird gefällt. Kein Teil
                               des Bahnhofs mehr abgerissen
                            so lange wir jetzt verhandeln.
                                            O ja, 
                             die Ureinwohner Amerikas 
                                          kennen das Spiel
                       das hundert und tausend Mal gespielte  – 
                                    das Spiel der Versprechen:
                            gemacht um gebrochen zu werden.
             Und sofort, in den Morgennachrichten erfuhr’n wir 
                         daß des alten Mannes Erfolg 
                                                    der “BAU-STOP” 
                                    “GESTOPPT” ist . 
                              DIE TRICKREICHEN SPÜREN 
                DASS SIE ERREICHTEN, WAS SIE BEGEHRT.
                  DAS VOLK IST ZUR VERHANDLUNG BEREIT.
                          Die Leute haben’s Demonstrieren satt
                                        DENKEN SIE, 
                                             Mappus und seinesgleichen.
                                MERKEL und ihresgleichen.
                           Leute in den Spuren 
                                          von Nixon, dem „Trickster“.
                              WERDEN SIE GENAUSO SCHNELL
                                         FALLEN, WIE ER?

                        Demokratie ist’s, was wir brauchen
       
                                                                                 "Ich glaub an die Religion der Liebe, 
                                                         welche Richtung ihre Karawanen auch nehmen mögen, 
                                                         denn Liebe ist meine Religion und mein Glaube." 
                                                                                                                  - Ibn Arabi

                                   ...heute morgen
                              sagte des Lieferwagens
                         Fahrer, der uns
                                    das Katzenfutter brachte
                       „Nichts wird sich je ändern.“ 
                           „Egal wen wir wählen.“
                    „Da oben –  das ist ein Schweinestall!
                                  Die drin sind,
                         sind immer
                                            vom gleichen Schlag.“
                             Wie lang ist das her, jetzt,
                 daß ich dasselbe schon einmal vernahm!
                            Worte eines jungen Manns
                                           unter den Autowerkern 
                          als sie streikten, in Bochum, damals...
                „Was passiert“, fragte er mich
                   „wenn du’n Misthaufen wendest?“
                          „Das unterste – nach oben kehrst?“
                     ES WAR EIN SCHÖNES BILD – 
             EINE ANSPIELUNG AUF DIE REVOLUTION
                        UND DASS ES IMMER
                  DERSELBE ABSCHAUM IST – 
                      LEUTE VERFÜHRT VON DER MACHT –
                LEUTE DIE IHRE ELLBOGEN NUTZEN
                         UM NACH OBEN ZU KOMMEN –
                       DIE DANN ALLE HOFFNUNG
                            ZUNICHTE MACHEN...
                   Ich war stumm, damals, ein junger Mann
                  der instinktiv nein sagte zu dem Trauma 
                                   des Vaters
                        ‘n Vater, so rot, als junger Mann
                      so mutig den Nazis widerstehend
                              und dann, verraten
                            von den Genossen...
                   O ja, Menschen können schwach sein 
                      Sie können mutlos werden
              Auch selbstsüchtig, wenn die Chance da ist
                    Und doch akzeptierte ich es nie als wahr – 
            das zynische Sprichwort RÖMISCHER Herrscher – 
                        die Weisheit ihrer Philosophen:
                            „Homo hominem lupus –
          Der Mensch ist bloß ein Wolf, der den seinen auflauert“
                     SIEHST DU NICHT, SCHWESTER
                                       SIEHST DU NICHT, BRUDER
                  DASS VERLUST DER HOFFNUNG 
                          DIE NIEDERLAGE IN SICH BIRGT?
                                       Wach auf!
                               Sammle deine Kräfte!
                         Hab Vertrauen in deine Integrität.
                                      Und weis 
                                  die Versuche zurück, 
                                                         dich zu verführen.
                 Reichtümer. Macht über andre. Karrieren. Privileg.
                          Die Antwort auf die ewigen Fallen liegt in
                                      schwesterlicher Liebe.
                                           Respekt.
                                         Im Teilen...
                                 Wir brauchen keine Chefs
                                              da oben
                              Nicht einmal die, die SAGEN
                                  daß sie auf unserer Seite sind
                   
                                                                 8.Okt. 2010

 * Kein Witz, es gab Abu Ghraib. Es gibt Guantanamo. Es gab die unterirdischen, lichtlosen und schallisolierten Zellen, in denen Gefangene wie Frau Rosenberg, Frau Baradini und Frau Torres eingesperrt waren. Und zwar nicht – wie üblich –  in Marokko und anderen Diktaturen der sogenannten Dritten Welt; diese politischen Gefangenen saßen in den USA in high security prisons, in speziellen Zellen für „Subversive“, für „Staatsfeinde“, Feinde der Macht. Sie saßen in Zellen, die an jene in Stammheim erinnern können. Und es gibt immer noch Menschen wie Julian Assange, die „weißer Folter“ (white torture, die angeblich keine Spuren hinterläßt) ausgesetzt sind. “Mr. Assange is not a criminal convict and poses no threat to anyone, so his prolonged solitary confinement in a high security prison is neither necessary nor proportionate and clearly lacks any legal basis”, said Nils Melzer, UN Special Rapporteur on torture.” (Quelle: United Nations official website)

Это не шутка. Абу-Грейб существовал. Еще есть Гуантанамо. Были подземные, темные и звуконепроницаемые камеры, в которых содержались такие заключенные, как г-жа Розенберг, г-жа Барадини и г-жа Торрес. А не - как обычно - в Марокко и других диктатурах так называемого третьего мира; эти политзаключенные содержались в тюрьмах строгого режима в США, в специальных камерах для «диверсантов», для «врагов государства», врагов власти. Они сидели в камерах, напоминающих камеры в Штаммхейме. И есть еще такие люди, как Джулиан Ассанж, которые подвергаются «белой пытке» (белой пытке, которая якобы не оставляет следов). «Г-н Ассанж не является осужденным по уголовным делам и не представляет угрозы ни для кого, поэтому его длительное одиночное заключение в тюрьме строгого режима не является ни необходимым, ни соразмерным, и явно не имеет никаких правовых оснований», — заявил спецдокладчик ООН по пыткам Нильс Мельцер. (Источник: официальный сайт Организации Объединенных Наций)

 Lower part of Schlossgarten (Photo by Trapper Frank. Souce: Wikimedia     Commons)

  Documented here in the public interest

              Die herrschende Dialektik

                      Die herrschende Dialektik
                              ist immer noch
                        die der Herrschenden

                  Zuerst polieren sie
                              braven Leuten die Fresse
                     und dann lassen sie anfragen bei ihnen
                          ob sie sich auch
              gut geschützt fühlen, von der staatlichen Macht
 

                                           16.Okt. 2010

Reste

                              “…finally the table
                                is starting to turn”

Werden wir sie einschließen?
Werden wir den Schlüssel wegwerfen?
Werden wir sie befragen, dann foltern 
und hängen?

Nein, nichts davon. Die Übeltäter
die noch herrschen
werden still vergehn – 
als Gärtner, in des Kaisers Garten

Seltsame Überreste
werden’s sein – 
aus einer Zeit, da uns der Mut
gefehlt

democracy
as a permanent,
unfinished
process