Jack of Hearts Queen of Hearts Jack of Spades Poem by Phil Coyote

JJJJJ

by Phil Coyote

The Jack of Hearts

who gave us new starts

had his brain blown away in Dallas’ Dealey Plaza

as the whole world watched

by television.

ZR RIFLE

The Queen of Hearts

who unchained hearts

rode the pure white steed

went downstairs to buy some cigarettes

and went back up to her room

and breathed her last breath

of LA’s smog

so says our Pravda.

COINTELPRO

The Jack of Spades

who gave electric, life changing serenades

and freed the slaves

mixed pills and wine

and left for all time

upright

in a London ambulance

choked to death.

COINTELPRO

The Lizard King

who could do anything

and change your mind

when he’d sing

rode the pure white steed

that he never, ever would heed

and found his only friend

the end

in a bathtub

in the City of Lights

COINTELPRO

The walrus who everyone knew

like a Jesus Jew

who’d help you to do what’s true

was shot by an intelligentsia sleeper

in the Big Apple

another Casualty In America

JJJJJ