Tuesday, August 2, 2016



________ FREDDIE GRAY _________

(A Parody of Wordsworth’s Lucy Gray)

Oft we have heard of Freddie Gray,
And, when we crossed the town,
We chanced to see at break of day
His blood still raining down.

No mate, no comrade Freddie knew;
He lurks forevermore, ––
A sadder apparition few
Will see in Baltimore!

Oh you may spy the Dregs at play,
With Crack and Coke obscene;
But the tortured face of Freddie Gray
Will never more be seen.

“To-night the monkey on my back,
Says downtown you must go,
And take my pipe to fill with crack
To pushers with my dough.”

“That, Mother! Will I gladly do;
‘Tis not long after noon ––
The Hopkins Clock has just struck two,
You’ll get your pipe filled soon.”

At this the Mother roared and shook,
Then snapped out what she’d planned
“Begone and quick,” so Freddie took
The Meerschaum in his hand.

And hither towards the dens of vice;
With many a wanton stroke
Poor Freddie took his Ma’s advice,
He knew it was no joke.

But riots rose before their time,
As Freddie wandered down,
And many hills did Freddie climb
To reach the flaming town.

The wretched mother all that night
Kept cursing loud and vile;
But there was no one wrong or right
To neutralize her bile.

At day-break by his door she stood,
Peered towards the Inner Harbor;
And in a looking glass saw she should
Visit soon a barber.

Dejected now she turned, and cried
"I hope in Heaven we’ll meet!"
As on the pavement she espied
The print of Freddie's feet.

Then downward from the steep hill's edge
She tracked the footprints small;
Right to the edge of a stone ledge,
Atop a high stone-wall;

And then an open lot she cross'd,
With cans and bottles strewn;
She tracked the prints, nor ever lost,
Until it was high noon.

She followed through the cursed spots
Until she reached an alley,
A place of many dried blood clots
Deep in a Shadowed Valley.

Poor Freddie’s footprints disappear'd 
He ne’er was seen again
Though many said they greatly feared
He’d died in screaming pain.

Yet some maintain that to this day
He is a living Child,
That you may see poor Freddie Gray
His body undefiled.

Through Baltimore he trips along,
In sunshine rain and wind;
And hums a plaintive little song
Denying he has sinned.


~ FreeThinke









36 comments:

  1. The bad news just keeps piling up for Hillary:

    Wikileaks Bombshell Leaked To True Pundit: Hillary Clinton Knew of Weapons Supplied from Benghazi to Al-Qaeda in Syria | True Pundit​

    ""Wikileaks Bombshell Leaked To True Pundit: Hillary Clinton Knew of Weapons Supplied from Benghazi to Al-Qaeda in Syria"" Wikileaks has promised to release documents linking Hillary Clinton to knowingly supplying Syria with weapons from her state department. That disclosure could come in any number of days, sources said. True Pundit, however, has already unearthed the documentation.

    The Intel provides official confirmation of what has been rumored for years: President Obama, his White House, and Hillary Clinton and her State Department knew that weapons were being shipped from Benghazi to rebel troops in Syria. Those “rebels” were largely al Qaeda and Muslim Brotherhood extremist factions, according to corroborating documents.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And what, pray tell, does any of that have to do with the implications found in my parody of Wordsworth's Lucy Gray and the images that accompany it?

      Delete
  2. I cannot and will not support any effort to denigrate the sacrifice of Captain Humayun Khan. I don't know whether or not the man is a hero (conflicting stories about the circumstances of his death) but he died in service to America and his memory deserves to be honored alongside every American who has made that selfsame sacrifice.

    However, the actions of his father, Khizr Kahn, a Pakistani-born lawyer specializing in Sharia Law (which is unconstitutional) is another matter.

    Capt. Khan joined the Army on his own volition, not his father's.
    Capt. Khan was not drafted.
    The actions that lead to Capt. Khan's death were not prompted by his father.

    Capt. Khan's sacrifice was his and his alone to make. Mr. Khan can certainly share his grief, but not his son's sacrifice. It would be like taking an income tax credit for a charitable donation that his son made. It's not done, at least not legally nor in good taste.

    That being said, there is an enormous political context which overshadows and envelopes the current controversy between Mr. Khan and the Republican Presidential candidate. This is fueled by the Democratic Party for obvious reasons. The Democrats also try to obfuscate the prevalence of Muslim initiation and participation in attacks on the United States as well as every other country on the planet. No continent is secure from Islamic terrorist incursions; no public assemblage is safe from homicidal designs inspired by the rantings of a long dead pederast.

    There have been other actions by Muslims serving in America's armed forces that are not worthy of praise. Of course I am referring to despicable cowards who murdered their fellow soldiers. Such names as Hasan Karim Akbar and Nidal Hasan come readily to mind, not to mention the scores of American soldiers murdered by their so-called Muslim allies in Iraq and Afghanistan. These acts are conveniently forgotten by the current administration and the DNC,

    Does one honorable death that occurred twelve years ago cancel the thousands of horrific deaths that Islam has celebrated? Do comments about this single death deserve all this contentious scrutiny?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Excellent Points!

      But what, pray tell, does any of that have to do with the implications found in my parody of Wordsworth's Lucy Gray and the images that accompany it?

      Don't you realize that Blog Etiquette demands a response to whatever topic may be posted at any given blog? To ignore that obligation –– even when your comment males good sense in another context –– makes you guilty of SPAMMING, whether you realize it or not.

      Delete
  3. Herr Doctor FartlyAugust 2, 2016 at 4:23 AM

    Who knoweth or understandeth the sacrifice until they walketh in same shoes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Could you please find a way to twist that observation so it might bear some relation to today's post?

      Then answer this question:

      And what, pray tell, does any of that have to do with the implications found in of the parody of Wordsworth's Lucy Gray and the images that accompany it?

      Delete
  4. Why didn't you ask them about the six-million dollar's Gray's drug-addict mother received from the city of Baltimore then tell them what use she made of it? Then remind them of Rodney King's millions received for "abuse" by authorities, and what that sorry SOS did with the big advantage given to him? Why don't you tell them that it is impossible to "help" people who have no education, nosense of values, and no grasp of reality?

    - Pietro Salterini

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Excellent questions, Signor Salterini.Too bad no one has yet chosen to address them!

      Delete
  5. Last Thursday, during Hillary’s acceptance speech at the DNC, she delivered a heart-wrenching and emotional tale about a little girl in a wheelchair. Boy, that Hillary…she’s always thinking of the less fortunate and doesn’t think twice about sticking her neck out to help the little guy. There’s only one problem with Hillary’s story (and pretty much everything she says)…it was all a big LIE!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And what, pray tell, does any of that have to do with the implications found in my parody of Wordsworth's Lucy Gray and the images that accompany it?

      Delete
  6. Kahn did a disservice to his son attacking Trump or anyone over his son's death and slandering them for political reasons. When you bring your son's sacrifice (and it is HIS son's sacrifice NOT the fathers) into a dirty political arena you will get mud flung right back. He could have given a speech on his son and have it be moving without the personal attacks. Just because his son was in the military does not give him a free pass to insult others, no mater who they are. If this were the case then my sister hit the jack pot. She is a latin female who for a while raised her son as a single mother and now that son is in the marines. She could go on stage and insult and accuse Hilary, Obama, or anyone she wants and she should not expect anyone to reply or dare "insult" her back. Everyone focuses on what Trump said but no one sees the degrading actions of this man using his son's service to this country as a political weapon against Trump. We as Americans need to decide, is securing our borders and protecting american lives worth upsetting those who wish to come to this country or is the death of a few American civilians worth the price so people like this man are not upset over secured borders.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And what, pray tell, does any of that have to do with the implications found in my parody of Wordsworth's Lucy Gray and the images that accompany it?

      Delete
  7. This whole thing stinks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. WHAT "whole thing?"

      Please try to be more specific. Without a proper frame of reference your comment has no meaning.

      Delete
  8. Percy TittlebottomAugust 2, 2016 at 9:30 AM

    Bravo! What a delightful outing, Mr. FreeThinke! You're quite the wit. You've employed Wordsworth to bring poetic pathos to a modern-day human tragedy. Quite refreshing. Please keep up the engaging work, as I shall continue to frequent these pages.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We do TRY, Percy. Thank you for noticing our earnest attempt to be creative while avoiding BOILERPLATE rhetoric.

      Delete
  9. Herr Doctor FartlyAugust 2, 2016 at 9:34 AM

    Da message, herein encased, as cleareth as be it may, will remaineth a puzzle for those with eyes so cloudeth they see'eth not.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mammy Jokum said

      Yeah, well da't's just Yuman Naytchuh, ainit, doc?

      Ain' never been no one abel to do nuttin' 'bout dat jet, hazz dare?

      Delete
  10. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. PLEASE! Either ADRESS the TOPIC, or REFRAIN from POSTING.

      Spamming with irrelevant, prepared remarks, –– however intelligent they may be ––, is RUDE and UNACCEPTABLE.

      Thanks for observing our rules and guidelines in future.

      Delete

  11. Freddy Gray was a PUNK a THUG. This IS the very kind of trash you WANT removed from the Streets...

    ReplyDelete
  12. The Blacks defend trash like this only because he's Black...

    ReplyDelete
  13. I find it amazing that an African American judge has found over and over again that there is no prosecution of any of the police officers involved in the death of Freddie Gray. What should we make of that?

    ReplyDelete
  14. UNHINGED CLINTON SUPPORTER Knocks Elderly Man To Ground After He Tries To Stop Him From Burning U.S. Flag.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Trump
    Trump has been trying hard to chase away Republican support. He obviously doesn't like Republicans. Recently he has said he doesn't support Ryan, or McCain and is actively supporting other people for their seats in the upcoming election. McCain and Ryan have halfheartedly supported Trump simply because he is the Republican nominee, as have many other Republicans. They continue to come out and denounce his statements on various issues, including the latest dust up about Mr. and Mrs. Kahn, yet, continue to say he is the only choice to be the next president. Certainly it is a choice of two evils for Republicans, with Hillary being the most evil.
    It's the majority of the Republican voters who have put Trump in his position and Republican leadership in their uncomfortable position. Trump is an outsider as a Republican, as much as Sanders was an outsider in the Democratic party. The Republicans chose the outsider, the Democrats did not. That puts Trump at a disadvantage for Republican party unity and getting the most possible votes out of Republicans. Hillary won her party's nomination, but Sander supporters claim they won't vote for her and decades of negative Hillary feelings within the Democratic party towards Hillary means she won't get the most available democratic votes. That negativity towards Hillary from within the Democratic party is why she lost to Obama (an unknown) even though she was considered a shoe in to win the Democratic nomination in 2008.
    This will leave the undecided vote (at a high of 20%) to decide who the winner will be. That's one of the only normal facts about this election. The undecided voters often decide who will be president. I doubt a huge democratic voter turnout (which hasn't appeared during the primary's) can make up that 20% undecided vote. Those undecided voters seem to be in the same quandary, which candidate is less evil, which candidate do they dislike more.
    Democrats are hoping Trump's big mouth will get those undecided voters to go with Hillary, but there is no sign that is happening. The "Teflon Don" has yet to say something that has changed the mind of those undecided voters. The undecided percentage hasn't changed in months. Even the negative comments from Republican leaders about Trump hasn't had an effect on the undecided number. The traditional ideal of what a president should be characteristically doesn't seem to matter. As repulsive as Trump can be, that hasn't changed the undecided voters, yet. Similarly, all the negativity about Hillary hasn't changed that undecided number. These undecided voters will probably not vote, or make up their minds as they vote. Just make a pick, like pin the tail on the donkey. It's a crummy choice in their eyes.
    As for me; my State will go big for Hillary, so I probably won't vote. If I was in a State that was close, I would vote for Hillary based only on my repulsion for Trump. I am not a Hillary fan. Good luck with your choice, undecideds.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Do you want four more years of liberals parading the parents of a fallen Muslim soldier's parants telling us who to vote for? Allowing so called Muslim refugees into this country to take away our jobs, getting welfare, healthcare, food-stamps, and all that good stuff.....Muslim Americas preaching support of Jihad, antiamericanism, antisemitism and support of Sharia law. Doesn't matter what is happening in Europe, which is our future when Muslims start to make more of our population.
    Did that Father that disgraced the Republicans condemn radical Islam that killed his son, nope he went on a shameless and dishonorable attack on Trump. Did anyone notice that he didn't condemn Bill Clinton as a draft dodger. He didn't condemn Hillary who never serve, and who lied her fat behind off, coving up the attack that killed 4 Brave Men at Bengazhi? . Why didn't he condemn Hillary for destabilizing Libya and allowing the rise of ISIS? He is like all Muslims , they preach propaganda about their dangerous cult that seeks to dominate the West. Brie a figurehead or radical Islam.

    And that phoney ignorant Muslim wanted to know what Trump is sacrificing. No he hasn't made the ultimate sacrifice, but it is not black and white, there is a gray area. He is sacrificing his great name, his resources and many business opportunities to protect the country from Muslims invaders. If he succeeds his sacrifice will be a million times greater than their AMERICAN son, who they utterly DISHONORED and thank Jesus is nothing like them.
    But Trump acted like an emotional child that takes the bait of every damn time. He could have used this strategically. Thanked them for their son's sacrifice, praised their so and then told preaches why we need to stop radical Islam, why we need to vet ALL Muslims coming to this country and he should have pointed out that radical Islam kills far more fellow Muslims than no Muslims. Nope he took the bait and went on a petty attack and now once again needs to back off before they ruin him altogether, they have had a lot of practice doing just that!

    ReplyDelete
  17. 0bama is the worst POTUS in history and Hillary has the potential to be worse than him.

    ReplyDelete
  18. As far as blaming Trump for Cpt Khans death, Hillary Clinton was among those who sent his son to die in war NOT Trump

    ReplyDelete
  19. Trump has been trying hard to chase away Republican support. He obviously doesn't like Republicans. Recently he has said he doesn't support Ryan, or McCain and is actively supporting other people for their seats in the upcoming election. McCain and Ryan have halfheartedly supported Trump simply because he is the Republican nominee, as have many other Republicans. They continue to come out and denounce his statements on various issues, including the latest dust up about Mr. and Mrs. Kahn, yet, continue to say he is the only choice to be the next president. Certainly it is a choice of two evils for Republicans, with Hillary being the most evil.
    It's the majority of the Republican voters who have put Trump in his position and Republican leadership in their uncomfortable position. Trump is an outsider as a Republican, as much as Sanders was an outsider in the Democratic party. The Republicans chose the outsider, the Democrats did not. That puts Trump at a disadvantage for Republican party unity and getting the most possible votes out of Republicans. Hillary won her party's nomination, but Sander supporters claim they won't vote for her and decades of negative Hillary feelings within the Democratic party towards Hillary means she won't get the most available democratic votes. That negativity towards Hillary from within the Democratic party is why she lost to Obama (an unknown) even though she was considered a shoe in to win the Democratic nomination in 2008.
    This will leave the undecided vote (at a high of 20%) to decide who the winner will be. That's one of the only normal facts about this election. The undecided voters often decide who will be president. I doubt a huge democratic voter turnout (which hasn't appeared during the primary's) can make up that 20% undecided vote. Those undecided voters seem to be in the same quandary, which candidate is less evil, which candidate do they dislike more.
    Democrats are hoping Trump's big mouth will get those undecided voters to go with Hillary, but there is no sign that is happening. The "Teflon Don" has yet to say something that has changed the mind of those undecided voters. The undecided percentage hasn't changed in months. Even the negative comments from Republican leaders about Trump hasn't had an effect on the undecided number. The traditional ideal of what a president should be characteristically doesn't seem to matter. As repulsive as Trump can be, that hasn't changed the undecided voters, yet. Similarly, all the negativity about Hillary hasn't changed that undecided number. These undecided voters will probably not vote, or make up their minds as they vote. Just make a pick, like pin the tail on the donkey. It's a crummy choice in their eyes.
    As for me; my State will go big for Hillary, so I probably won't vote. If I was in a State that was close, I would vote for Hillary based only on my repulsion for Trump. I am not a Hillary fan. Good luck with your choice, undecideds.

    ReplyDelete
  20. The 2016 Democratic Convention in Philadelphia was a multi-layered, raucous display of political theater. A host of delegates loyal to Senator Bernie Sanders were inside in large numbers exclaiming “No more war” during former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s speech and raising all kinds of progressive, rebellious signs and banners against the Hillary crowd. Although Hillary addressed them directly in her acceptance speech, “Your cause is my cause,” those dissatisfied delegates in the hall saw her rhetoric for what it was: insincere and opportunistic.
    She said she’d tax the wealthy for public necessities, but declined to mention a sales tax on Wall Street speculation that could bring in as much as $300 billion a year to support such initiatives. She opposed “unfair trade agreements,” but remarkably omitted saying she was against the TPP (the notorious pending Trans Pacific Trade Agreement backed by Obama that is receiving wide left/right opposition).
    She paid lip service to a “living wage” but avoided endorsing a $15 an hour minimum wage, which would help single moms and their children – people she wants us to believe have been her enduring cause. Few people know that it took until the spring of 2014 before candidate Clinton would come out for even a $10.10 minimum wage. News reports noted that Clinton, a former member of Walmart’s board of directors and Arkansas corporate lawyer, was wrestling with how to support $10.10 per hour without alienating her Wall Street friends.
    “Caring for kids” doesn’t extend to encircled Gaza’s defenseless children, hundreds of whom were killed by American-made weapons wielded by the all powerful Israeli military. Gaza is the the world’s largest open air prison and under illegal blockade. Remember, as Secretary of State, Hillary fully backed war crimes, condemned by almost all countries in the world. On the stage in Philadelphia, she spoke of backing Israel’s security without any mention of Palestinian rights or the need to end Israel’s illegal occupation of the territories.
    It is true, as numerous speakers repeated, Clinton is “most qualified and experienced,” but her record shows those qualities have led to belligerent, unlawful military actions that are now boomeranging against U.S. interests. The intervention she insistently called for in Libya, with Obama’s foolish consent, over-rode the wiser counsel of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (and his generals), who warned of the chaos that would follow. He was proven right, with chaotic violence now all over Libya spilling into other African countries. This is but one example of what Bernie Sanders meant during the debates when he referenced her “poor judgement.”
    The media coverage of political conventions tends to sink to the level of the circus. The PBS/NPR coverage with some half dozen reporters and two commentators proved to be thin, light, soft and superficial. Otherwise smart media communicators were reduced to very heavy focus on exactly what the Party’s manipulators wanted. “What is Hillary really like?” Of course the stage was filled with frothy admiration, awe and acclamation. But why didn’t the media point out some of the factual omissions, the contradictions to the endless sugarcoating of the nominee?
    To her credit, NPR/PBS reporter, Susan Davis, did blurt out that the Convention program was mostly about personality and character with little policy. Reporters did, however, point out that unlike all other candidates, Hillary Clinton has not had a news conference since last December to showcase her supposed experience, qualifications and knowledge!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Newest Poll Shows Trump Down by only 3% Nationally

    ReplyDelete
  22. Jake Crapper, All Bull Crap NewsAugust 3, 2016 at 4:18 PM

    BREAKING NEWS:

    This just in! Trump announced he plans on reviving his collapsing campaign by securing a prime time TV slot to throw a burlap bag full of puppies and kitties into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Manhattan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Herr Doctor FartlyAugust 3, 2016 at 5:16 PM

      LMAO! Good one. Tis plausible Trumpy might just do something so ridiculously assine.

      Delete
  23. Sadly, Hillary used Capt Khan's true scarifice for this country, to get emotional gain, from the voters...or perhaps many would to vote for her rather than for Trump...but my question is this ethical for such a political candidate to hide her policies, and actions to gain the emotional tunnel to get votes? seriously very shamful of Hillary....please do go vote but keep your emotions and think which candidate can better do for this country.
    Khan was a hero…Khan’s Father is NOT… In fact Kahn runs a Muslim Brotherhood backed law firm that specializes in …….. MUSLIM IMMIGRATION to the US..
    He also believes the US Constitution should be submissive to SHARIAH LAW… Hummm..
    So he can take his pocket sized constitution that he only uses to make political points with! He can stick it up his butt for all I care!!

    And anpther thing justfor the record…
    OBAMA , AND HILLARY BANNED MUSLIMS FOR A SIX MONTH PERIOD…You can look it up in Google..
    In fact this is nothing new, .. every president since Carter…. THREE REPUBLICANS AND THREE DEMOCRATS have banned immigrants from certain nations at one time or another during their administrations..
    So if this is about the HERO SON, fine, if it's about that creep Khizr Khan, it's a whole different story. .. I'd say, Captain Khan would disagree with his own parents who were not there and do not respect the wishes of their own deceased son, killed in a war Hillary voted for. Kahn , would disagree with the entire Damnocratic Party because , like most solders who bravely fight for the freedoms the Dems try to destroy, He Was A Proud Rebublican ! Captain Khan, A true American Hero who detested the corruption of HilLiary !
    I wonder if the Parents of those 4 Brave Men that Died in Benghazi thought about Hillary's sacrifice?
    I wonder if Pat Smith, whose son Sean was murdered in the attack along with the three other Americans, believes Hillary Clinton the (fromer) Secretary of State when she blamed the killings on a controversial Video?

    ReplyDelete

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