i can see Jesus trying
to reach the citizen
caught up in the riot
plumes of tear gas
whirling around living grace
somebody spray painting
a slogan across his scarred back
he's taken a rock to the head
rises to his feet again and again
staggers into rat faced alley
to catch his precious breath
a red-eyed bum dabs the blood from
his comforting lips
wading back into the ignited states of....
finally reaching the baton line
pinballed between chestnut colored riot horses
i lose sight of holiness
rubber bullets and flash bombs rattle
the soul of a city on
tilt