Year: 2008

there will always be
racists, sexists and homophobes
and anti-semites too
those who find
any kind
of difference taboo
those who shout
“stay out
no (fillintheblank) allowed”
who teach their children
how to hate
those who don’t assimilate
the proper roles they designate
as fitting for the crowd 

there will always be
racists, sexists and homophobes
no matter how we try
to fight for people’s right to be
at peace beneath the sky
the hatred is irrational
don’t bother asking why
it’s truly international
just watch it multiply 

and we who fight
racists, sexists, homophobes
have to look inside
we’ve prob’ly been a bit of each
i have
i confide
but we’ve worked to overcome
base instincts we may hide
to help ourselves and others
find self-esteem and pride

just because there are
racists, sexists and homophobes
doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive
to teach our children tolerance
for everyone alive
to show by our example
how all deserve to thrive
and keep on fighting for the day
when justice will arrive

for a few years now, peter melnick and i have been working on a original musical called “the last smoker in america” … we’re doing some readings in new york this month so i thought i’d post the title lyric — it was the second song we wrote for the show … the lead character, an english-lit professor named pam is singing this to her teen-aged son, jimmy

Continue reading “the last smoker in america”

in nearly every berg and hamlet
the gentlemen of style
entertain
call and say
“come on by
for lunch
or dinner
or sunday brunch”
or just to bring
a bunch together

they might be teachers
florists
or masters of design
of graphics
or fine interiors
or maybe they do magic
with their clients’ hair
the gentlemen of style
are here and everywhere

and yes
they’re often gay
though sometimes married anyway
or too closeted by half
trying not to laugh too high
they keep their voices low
even so
most everyone must know
as they go about
dispensing taste
(not always good
but nonetheless
more than others might possess)

sometimes they’re cursed
for being odd
though seldom face-to-face
most welcome
the inherent graciousness
and guile
of the gentlemen of style

especially those wives
who need help
deciding on their drapes
or feeding a large group
and always need assistance
with their dos
they dare befriend
the gentlemen of style
and if their husbands
cast a disapproving eye
they sigh and say
”but, honey,
don’t you love the way
he does my hair?”

the husbands may not care
but they pretend
so as not to offend
the little lady
or her less-than-manly friend

bless those gentlemen of style
who touch their bergs and hamlets
with loveliness
of gesture
and design
with art
both popular
and fine
who know good wine
and love to dine
and host
and raise a toast

some of them
are friends of mine
and when i have to spend a while
in their berg or town
how i then appreciate
the warm hello
and welcome smile
of those essential citizens
the gentlemen of style