As a gesture of support and solidarity with the Quebec student strike and in opposition to bill 78, Alessandra Naccarato organized an events called "78 Poems Against Bill 78 in 78 Hours". LitLive is happy to be showcasing some highlights from the massive list of poems-- over 150!-- submitted in the 78 hours between June 1st and the morning of June 4th. See them all at poesie78.tumblr.com
Here is one selection from poet Shane Koyczan
Ending The Fast
Calories be damned
give back the original recipe
we are tired of your diet freedom
no more reduced liberties
no more 50 percent less rights
no more freedom free freedoms
you will not sit long
upon this saddle of broken backs
you will not rest your feet
on the tired shoulders
of the heavy lifters
give back a freedom with no additives
give it back free range and organic
you were not asked to be in charge
you were trusted
this evaporation of faith
is a natural response
to your constantly turning up the heat
the warmth you enjoy
must now diminish
and spread
sacrifice is something offered
not taken
you have became experts
of taking
how many cookies
did you think
were left in the jar?
your hands smell like freedom
simple rights
sit like crime scene crumbs at the corners of your mouth
you are a fat government
telling your horse to diet
believing it is lazy and slow
because it will no longer carry you
it can’t carry you
it watched you gain weight
it feels the heavy burden of your wretched entitlement
it remembers the hungry bite of your stick
and notices
the absence of the carrot.