Thanksgiving Prayer

There is a DTM tradition of me reposting this poem for turkey day. I was a little weak and sentimental this year, probably because I've been on tour for five weeks and miss home, so I almost didn't do it. However, I got some guff from twitter (astonishingly) for not putting it up, and I certainly don't mean to be a sell-out, so here it is.  

---

THANKSGIVING PRAYER (by William S. Burroughs)

"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-killin' lawmen, 
feelin' their notches.



For decent church-goin' 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 the
ir 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.

--

Watch Burroughs recite. 

 

11/22/2012

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