Danny Shot's “The Blame Game”

Dateline: 6/22/99

Danny Shot, the intrepid originator and continuing co-editor of Longshot, one of our fave po zines, is also a totally coolio poet in his own write -- his blend of personal and political illumines the roles of father, teacher, poet.

A couple of years ago I was in the chorus when he performed his “Blame Game” as part of Felipe Luciano's** outrageous dream-come-true of a poets' orchestra (voice only): the Wordchestra! This was a 50 voice supergroup, with other soli by such as Suheir Hammad, Louis Reyes Rivera, Amiri and Amina Baraka, and Sandra Maria Esteves.

**(a Last Poet -- even though he no longer performs with them, once a Last Poet, always a Last Poet!)

So, when I was watching MTV the other night, there was Danny's poem! Only now “The Blame Game” is a hideously great mock trial of who did what to whom in the breakup -- terrific fodder for the broken-hearted. Well, Danny was there first and demands residuals and creative consultancy buckeroos. We are happy to provide this poem the visibility it deserves -- may it outdraw the MTV plagiarists!

--Bob Holman

The Blame Game

Who me? you? who? me?
who's to blame?
Who's at fault?
Who stole the teeth
from Betty Lou's smile?
Blame the poor
It's not my fault
Blame the Blacks
I didn't do it
Blame the Jews
killers of our favorite
savior
Blame se habla Spanglish
Blame book readers
women with hairy legs
Blame noserings
Hostess Twinkies
Japanese baseball
welfare mothers
and baggy pants.
Blame the 60's
the Kennedy's
union workers
who dare to ask
for more.
Pin the blame
on the donkey.
Blame Oliver Stone
for Nixon.
Blame your watch
for being late
as you wait
behind the locked gate
for your voice
to arrive.
Blame teachers
and students
and girls
in tight pants.
Blame them all
for the fall
of American skies.
Name the blame
Hillary and roll
her in dirt.
Everybody now
play the blame game
blame them
not me.

--Danny Shot

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