Live Encounters Poetry & Writing August 2025
Mother Said “Do Your Homework”, poem by Joe Kidd.
Mother Said “Do Your Homework”
today we celebrate what the old men died for
pledge allegiance to a flag
sing our songs of patriotism
and thank the soldiers for their service
we did our homework when we were children
we passed through school like invisible ghosts
they taught us history, they taught us English
they taught us to be quiet, they taught us well
“you’ll need to know this when you grow up
you’ll need to follow the golden rule
you could be the next president
you could live the American dream
you could make your parents proud”
but parents get old and fade to glory
memories disappear before our eyes
their vision of happiness follows behind
enlist in the forces
the world needs heroes
save the city, the country, and the world
they will feed you democracy
tell you what to do
when and how to do it
salute the officers at the rear
but this is not a video game
if you miss this shot it is going to hurt
if you make the wrong turn
somebody is killed
the wrong decision and boom, you’re gone
traffic is backed up for 15 miles
a car on fire upside down
110 miles per hour
motorcycle, helmet, ambulance
we were all babies at least born free
had no idea of what could be
they gave us everything we ever wanted
turned us into cannibals
the zombies are real, walking in the street
pointing and hollering at something they see
but it’s not there and neither are they
the hospital is full of people like us
who eat the apples and drink the wine
broken bodies, demented minds
we are told to call on the government
that line is busy, disconnected
out till Tuesday, you’ll be dead by then
what the agents of insurance have calculated
played and lied to, our entire life
stopped in the middle of a crooked road
free to be hungry beasts of burden
a talking machine, an indulgent facade
deflected, disposed of, a slow surrender
we let them in, we gave them the right
they stole the power in the middle of the night
the asteroid hit and left a crater
deep in the heart of a living planet
but the corpse kept walking, covered with dirt
a whale on the beach and a fallen leaf
“we bought you and sold you
auctioned off your soul
the contract is signed, no clause for escape”
so said the river rat in the city of capital
“down on your knees and give me 100
how fast can you run with an ape on your back”
and that river keeps rising and swallowing the dream
now jump on that pony, painted with blood
over the mountain of buried bones
your paleontology exposes your heritage
this body was alive at the time of death
so be not afraid, the lord is with you
as you walk through the valley of snipers and mines
these friends and these enemies, identical masks
want to feast on the brains and the thoughts and the remains
of the treasure left behind when we can no longer bleed
this is no secret and no surprise
that when we look back on what was not done
that the space once occupied in the universe expanding
is larger than the life ever possible to live
she told us all that, and everything else
did you cast a ballot, were you so brave
did you make history on that fateful day
did you hear what mother had to say
did you do your homework, emancipate the slave
within
© Joe Kidd
Joe Kidd is a working poet/songwriter/artist. He has been awarded by the Michigan Governor’s Office and the United States House of Representatives for his efforts to promote social justice, cultural diversity, and world peace. Joe was appointed Beat Poet Laureate State of Michigan 2022-2024, He has been named Official Poet and Ambassador of Peace by the Government of Birland North Africa. Joe holds Honorary Doctorate from International Peace Federation and Writer’s Union. He is ordained in a non-denominational religious order. Joe Kidd has received numerous awards including: Songwriter of the Year, 2024 Platinum Eagle Award, Champion of Diversity Award from Images & Perceptions Organization. He is a Pushcart Prize nominee 2025.
He has toured 9 countries in Western Europe. Also Canada, Mexico, Jamaica, Greece, and 33 states in America. He has been featured in international anthologies, magazines, websites, festivals, and other personal appearances worldwide. Joe is a member of National & International Beat Poetry Foundation, 100 Thousand Poets For Change, Society of Classical Poets, International Singer Songwriter Association, Michigan Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Joe Kidd has published 2 full length books. In 2020, published The Invisible Waterhole, a collection of spiritual and sensual verse. In 2024, published a short auto biograpy titled ‘Digging Underground – Portrait of a Beat Poet Laureate’. Joe Kidd & Sheila Burke released their first album titled
Everybody Has A Purpose in 2015. They have also been featured in compilation albums titled Songs For Standing Rock, and Music For Japan. Since then, they have periodically released a number of recordings including their latest release in January 2025, titled Liberation! Which have received international recognition and a variety of awards.
Official Website: https://joekiddandsheilaburke.com/