Winter-Summer

I love this time of year, here in my city. For about two weeks in the middle of winter, the weather changes and becomes calm, sunny, warm and lovely. Usually it’s the same time as the cherry blossoms bloom and the lost majik of my city once again asserts itself.
All of her denizens become happy, and generous of spirit, as if they had beef freed from the yoke of slavery. Slavery to the cold, the wet, to the indoors and each other.
It is also the month I have chosen for my birthday.
Since at the time of my first birth, calendars weren’t yet invented. People tracked time the old fashioned way, with the rising of the moon, the raising of crops or the passing of sons in war.
But about a thousand years ago I decided to celebrating the birthday of my current incarnation as my true birthday.

But I digress…
I love my city, but she’s having troubles. The gulf between rich and poor is no more apparent than here. Mocking all of us with a horrible reflection of our leaders ideas of our future.
I have never really believed in politics or ism’s
That was always my brothers job. I was content to stand by and watch, to be the commentary on life. But now that he passed, his mantle of activism has bled into my soul  and won’t go away. As much as I try it seems to assert itself when I least expect it.
Indeed. I get lost at times when I write. Deciding to move with the flow as opposed to the thought.

My city, my beautiful morally bankrupt city, is still the only place I call home. The only place that calls my name as I walk her streets at night, climb her hill during the day.
Whispering to me in the slightest of ways.
There’s hope.
As long as there is winter-spring, I’ll believe her.

Selah

The Rev

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People Say……

People often ask me: rev how can you put a shit covered  American flag on your new album cover? Isn’t that ungrateful, unpatriotic, obscene and filthy? Do you not love your country? Doesn’t that limit your market appeal? Do you not love your record label?
I always have the same three replies..

The first is always…. Fuck that!! The second is also always, market appeal??? What the fuck is that? I have been on the outside of “pop market appeal” since the dawn of time. In this lifetime, my hero’s were Zappa, Copland, Beefhart, The Who, Varez,,, Some of whom were not so famous in their time. I like it odd and weird, non conforming to social norms. That’s where my soul lives. Lastly I have always been an ardent supporter of all things anti fascist (Antifa if you will) -I’m sure that will get picked up by some government bot and filed away….So my answer would always be a resounding Fuck That.

But I digress……..

If It’s OK to want to raise the confederate flag for pride and heritage regardless of the fact that is stood for a treasonous secession and slavery. If it’s OK to put the American flag on bating suits, towels, head scarfs and underwear-where actual shit has a good probability of touching it, instead of my metaphorical version… If it’s OK to allow the ramblings of white supremacists on the web and in the white house, then guess what? Fuck you!! It’s political art. It’s freedom of speech. It’s anything but unpatriotic

A Symbol is nothing more that a rallying cry for a thought. The physical manifestation of that thought put to ego.. and the meaning of symbols can be changed by those that control them.
Let’s take our lady of liberty. A fine symbol for what’s truly great about this country, but her meaning has changed into What will you do for me today? How will you benefit me today, tomorrow and all of your indentured life.
Granted, I am someone who enjoys a good bit of hyperbole every now and then for story telling purposes…but the underlying truth about it is right there in front of you. Fuck the immigrants put them in cages. Separate the families and call it liberty.
Let’s go for the cross….Touchy stuff here, but we have many many christian pastors who are calling for an American Jihad  against all that they deem unholy! Do you hear that? Are you able to parse that wholly Un-American idea. If you’re a member of the LBGTQ community, If you’re a woman who wants a choice about her reproductive rights, If you are an immigrant seeking a better life. These self same preacher are going after you. How high is the child molestation count among the clergy. The fucking clergy!

Hypocrites and money changers lead our nation. 

No..icons are meant to convey the thoughts and ideals that we all strive to be and share and because of that they can be used to point out contrarian behavior, just as much as undying love. Because even though I put a shit covered flag on my cover, I still love my country. But I do believe that the ruthless thugs running it, need to be removed.

We have become the SHITHOLE NATION.

Be the revolution

Selah

the rev