[Originally written in 1973 by Audre Lorde, this poem—alternatively known as “Postscript to Karl Marx”—encroaches on the reality of the modern Labor Aristocracy in the imperialist core countries. As always the following has been made available here for the purposes of study and struggle.]

Down Wall Street

the students marched for peace

Above, construction workers looking on remembered

how it was for them in the old days

before their closed shop white security

and daddy pays the bill

so they climbed down the girders

and taught their sons a lesson

called Marx is a victim of the generation gap

called I grew up the hard way so will you

called

the limits of a sentimental vision.

When the passion play was over

and the dust had cleared on Wall Street

500 Union workers together with police

had mopped up Foley Square

with 2000 of their striking sons

who broke and ran

before their fathers chains.

Look here Karl Marx

the apocalyptic vision of amerika!

Workers rise and win

and have not lost their chains

but swing them

side by side with the billyclubs in blue

securing Wall Street

against the striking students.