Kurt Philip Behm Poet Rhyme

Conscience To Shame

Joplin was to Southern Comfort
what Hendrix was to smack
Morrison was to masquerade
what Dylan never lacked

Woodstock was to boomers lost
what music is to rhyme
Saigon was to those who stayed
what Auschwitz now reminds

Kennedy was to hopes and dreams
what nightmares are to some
Castro was to leftist thugs
what cymbals are to drums

Kissinger was to Nixon
an Appian Way to roam
Dr. King to civil rights
what kings are to their thrones

Walter Cronkite was to news
what context is to fact
Altar boys to feral Priests
what pretzels are to snacks

58,000 were to die
 a wall would then proclaim
58,000 were to all
— what conscience is to shame

(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)

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Karen Jones October 24, 2025 at 12:01 PM I’m facing this engaging masterpiece! Love your style and use of people in history! Kurt Philip Behm October 24, 2025 at 9:21 PM Thanks Karen, that's very kind of you.