let us mourn for new orleans

new orleans new orleans

let us mourn for the miserable rescue effort

for the drowned ones

slowly coming into view as the waters fall

let us mourn for new orleans

new orleans new orleans

as the police and national guard assert their magnificent presence

and the people they are sworn to protect

suffer and fail

let us praise those who escape

let us praise those who help

let us praise those who do not confuse compassion with racism

or anger with violence

let us praise those who loot to stay alive

let us praise the spirit of cooperation which flourished despite the horror

of the Superdome and the Convention Center

let us mourn for new orleans

for the cityof mardi gras (this Tuesday is thin, thin)

for the city of good food and coffee and delicious beignets

for the city of magnificent music

and laughter

let us mourn let us praise let us attack

those who did little or nothing

those who criticized and redirected money that might have beenused for better purposes

those who let the levees break

let us prais new orleans let us mourn it

let us hope that the thousands of displaced people

will not be Palestinians in their own country

let us  mourn for new orleans

new orleans new orleans

what it will

shall

be