And Now, A Few Words From The Critic by Rwanda RPCV Derrick Burleson



And Now, A Few Words From The Critic by Rwanda RPCV Derrick Burleson

And Now, A Few Words From The Critic
by Derrick Burleson

I want you
to feel what it's like
to burn at the stake

driven through your heart
to see cornea's mote
through the lens of an electron

microscope. I mean, science
says what science does, a cacophony
of hybrid fruit flavors

bred in turbidity. Magic,
on the other hand, grips
that which is scary in us,

the dark night of the closet,
that red wine stain even
All-Tempa-Cheer can't wash clean.

Put me and millions with the same
green eyes in chains this time, throw
us all overboard and let luminous

fish swim through the eyesockets
left in our skulls. Pull yourself
up by your necktie. See Andromeda

over summer vacation. Spin
until you faint dead away.
Gentle vampires, let us go

gently now and drink the blood
Odysseus poured in a trench
to summon all sorts of speechless shades

so when Uncle Sam flips you
the finger you'll be sure to remember
to fasten your seat belts

before vaulting the moon.
I used to brand cows
for a share of the beef

and hopefully even now
you can smell
the singeing hair.

When this story was posted in November 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

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Vote "Yes" on NPCA's bylaw changes Take our new poll. NPCA members begin voting this week on bylaw changes to streamline NPCA's Board of Directors. NPCA Chair Ken Hill, the President's Forum and other RPCVs endorse the changes. Mail in your ballot or vote online (after Dec 1), then see on how RPCVs are voting.

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November 27, 2004: This Week's Top Stories RPCV reaches out after Soccer attack 27 Nov Tony Hall serves cold rice to embassy guests 27 Nov Hope calms injured volunteer's family 26 Nov Journalist Russell Carollo plans book on Peace Corps 25 Nov Moyers says next 4 years will be golden age for reporters 24 Nov RPCV is new president of the Hawaii bar association 23 Nov Mark Gearan confirmed by Senate for CNS Board 23 Nov Chris Shays fits in the other Republican Party 22 Nov DC job a possibility for McPherson 22 Nov Sentence reduced for man who raped PCV in Vanuatu 21 Nov Frist criticizes provision in Omnibus Spending Bill 21 Nov Peace Corps to be funded at $320 million 19 Nov more top stories...

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Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here.

Your vote makes a difference Make a difference on November 2 - Vote. Then take our RPCV exit poll. See how RPCV's are voting and take a look at the RPCV voter demographic. Finally leave a message on why you voted for John Kerry or for George Bush. Previous poll results here.

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before. Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security.

Read the stories and leave your comments.