The Gamblers

Gamblers who play

and lose with other people's money:
These dictators, science-deniers, war-
mongers, riot-inciters, race-baiters, and women-
haters: They don't care
because they don't have to. To
them, depravity's a frolic and a sport.

hans ostrom 2022

"August 1968," by W.H. Auden

 Reading/video of Auden's short reaction to the USSR's/Warsaw Pact's invasion of Czechoslovakia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCH-jfL5oMs

Frail Wishes

Everything seems more fragile now:
my hip, democracy, seas, trees, trust,
wisdom, wolves. I wish dictators
and white supremacy were more
fragile, to the point of collapse.
Such wishes seem especially frail.


hans ostrom 2018

Blood Estuaries

Blood estuaries, the slaughter arts,
and radioactive crania of psychotic
power-addicts all have me a bit on
ledge. Industrial Whiteness

sells bigot spigots, 90 days
same as cash. Keep the hatred
flowing is their slogan. A
certain segment of the public

weaponizes Jesus and beats up
people who know facts.
Dictators proliferate worldwide
like syphilis chancres.

Ignorance is tidal.
Civilization's suicidal.


hans ostrom 2018