The Green Jackets are coming

[Keith]

Edit 1
The park tunnel was long enough
to lose peripheral vision,
it dripped even in dry weather.
I would sit in the shadows,
watch kids run like bumper cars
sparking fear onto blackened bricks.

I was learning.

A test for the playground huddle.
Have you heard?
when we leave at four the Green Jackets
will be by the bridge before the park,
it's winter, it's dark.
There was this girl walking home,
on her own.
They jumped her.
“What did they do, what did they do?”
They stripped her and carved Green Jackets
on her back with a razor blade.

Children spun like sycamore seeds,
coats twirling held by hoods,
a tribal chant began.

The Green Jackets are coming,
the Green Jackets are coming,

Through every class room,
the story fell like dominoes,
tears were beating snot bubbles to lips.
By home time the police where there
guiding the panic
through school gates

I have grown.

I see you,
vulnerable behind your screens,
I sell you God in the morning
and whiten your smile in the afternoon,
control any gullible fool who's willing to believe,
the Green Jackets are on their way.

Original
The park tunnel was long enough
to lose peripheral vision,
it dripped even in dry weather.
Sometimes I would sit in the shadows
watching kids run like bumper cars
sparking fear onto blackened bricks.

I was learning.

A test for the playground huddle.
Have you heard?
when we leave at four the Green Jackets
will be waiting by the bridge before the park,
its winter, it will be dark.
There was this girl walking home,
on her own.
Four of them jumped her.
“What did they do, what did they do?”
They stripped her and carved Green Jackets
on her back with a razor blade.

Children spun like sycamore seeds,
their coats twirling held only by the hoods,
a tribal chant began.

The Green Jackets are coming,
the Green Jackets are coming,
the Green Jackets are coming.

Through every class room at every age,
the story spread like falling dominoes,
tears where beating snot bubbles to lips.
By four o’clock the police where there
guiding panic stricken animals
through school gates that creaked
with laughter in the wind.

I have grown.

You're weak, needy and vulnerable,
safe behind your screens,
pickings for someone as well schooled as me
in telling you what to dream.
Reaching out down copper wires,
I can listen through a billion phones,
watch you through your webcam
uncensored, unchecked and uncontained.
I can sell you God in the morning
and whiten your smile in the afternoon,
I can make you drool.
control any gullible fool who still believes,
the Green Jackets are on their way.