A Thanksgiving Prayer

"To John Dillinger and hope he is still alive. Thanksgiving Day November 28 1986" Thanks for the wild turkey and The passenger pigeons, destined To be shat out through wholesome American guts. Thanks for a continent to despoil And poison. Thanks for Indians to provide a Modicum of challenge and Danger. Thanks for vast herds of bison to Kill and skin leaving the Carcasses to rot. Thanks for bounties on wolves And coyotes. Thanks for the American dream, To vulgarize and to falsify until The bare lies shine through. Thanks for the KKK. For nigger-killing lawmen, Feeling their notches. For decent church-going women, With their mean, pinched, bitter, Evil faces. Thanks for "Kill a Queer for Christ" stickers. Thanks for laboratory AIDS. Thanks for Prohibition and the War against drugs. Thanks for a country where Nobody's allowed to mind their own business. Thanks for a nation of finks. Yes, thanks for all the Memories-- all right let's see Your arms! You always were a headache and You always were a bore. Thanks for the last and greatest Betrayal of the last and greatest Of human dreams.