Sherry Chandler

Old news

I put a “new” poem up on my poem pages today: Haunted House.

It’s a bit of political satire and the references are maybe outdated. Does anyone remember the Beltway sniper in October of 2002?

I was reminded lately of this graphic collaboration I did with my son, Tom C. Williams, and since Hallowe’en candy is showing up in the stores already, I figured I’d just go ahead and put it back up.

You may infer that I was a tad angry at the time.

This poem, which is in my chapbook My Will and Testament Is on the Desk, originally appeared in Todd Swift’s 100 Poets Against the War (Salt Publishing). Copies of this collection of international poets are still available. It is also available for download.

It was published on January 27, 2003, the date on which Hans Blix delivered his weapons inspection report to the U.N. From the editor’s introduction:

100 Poets Against The War is, in its own way, a document of astonishing uniqueness. Among other things, it may hold the record for being the fastest assembled global anthology; it was first conceived and announced on January 20, 2003, a mere week before its first appearance. Only the speed of the Internet, and the overwhelmingly positive support of so many poets, who shared the project with their colleagues and personal networks, could have made it happen. These poets are from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Canada, Australia, India, France, America and elsewhere; many are cultural and/or peace activists; some are emerging poets, others very well-known.

I call this entry Old News but I heard this morning on NPR that a Federal Appeals Court has ruled the John Ashcroft can be sued for wrongfully detaining U.S. citizens as material witnesses. The wheels of justice are grinding very slowly on this one but they are grinding.

All this stuff won’t really be old news until investigations are held and justice is done.