Is it possible
for three hearts to beat
within one body?
One full of love and joy
for every creature,
every life form?
One full of sorrow
of what tomorrow
will likely unfold?
One full of anger
and a rage so profound
a heart breaks in pieces?
Oh, now I see.
I have but one heart
being torn asunder.
I am no longer in doubt.
I am no longer unsure.
I am no longer whole.
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I envy those still able to place words on a page.
I hesitate at what I might say to display my rage.
Silence is its own subtle, harmful, deadening cage.
I refuse to become like you – a killer
of all that is good, all that is free, all that is true.
I refuse to become like you – a silent witness
of all that is evil, all who are held in bondage,
all of the lies which rely upon you.
I refuse to become like you – a sycophant
in silent praise of racist, sexist, xenophobic chant
by tiny minds, fattened by greed, with tiny hands
grasping for the sacred trust, and pedophilic lust
most hide from civil and moral view.
I refuse to become you – a lost boy
in Never-Never Land, fearful and confused,
afraid to grow up, preferring to fly high
above those you believe inferior
so that you can feel superior.
I know who you are; and so, do you.
I refuse to become you; and so, extend a hand
to help you settle down upon a branch of freedom.
It is weakened; it is true.
But still strong enough
with love enough
to hold us…together.
Fraud plot in which some Somali immigrants participated? All Somalis are garbage so get rid of them all.
Criminal activity in which some African-Americans engage? All African-Americans are garbage. Get rid of them all.
Investigations and questions by journalists you find troublesome? All journalists are garbage. Get rid of them all.
Some women refuse your advances and sexism? All women are garbage. Get rid of them all.
Venezuelan boaters survive an illegal attack at sea? All Venezuelans are garbage. Get rid of them all.
Democrats pass legislation restricting corporate greed? All Democrats are garbage. Get rid of them all.
Military heroes remind military personnel to refuse unlawful orders? All military and veterans are garbage. Get rid of them all.
CEOs defraud, overcharge for goods and services, underpay workers? All CEOs are garbage. Get rid of them all.
Some White people commit crimes? All white people are garbage. Get rid of them all.
Some men abuse and rape women? All men are garbage. Get rid of them all.
Some bankers hide criminal gains, make money off the deposits? All bankers are garbage. Get rid of them all.
Hate has no logic except its power to destroy.
Hate has no reason except its delight in abuse.
Hate has no goodness in thought or in deed.
Hate is a damning influence and creed.
Hate is the one thing no one needs.
Some people hate? All people are garbage. Get rid of them all.
Hate until no one is left alive, no one at all.
MAGA CIRCUS
The clown leads the circus parade
Following the elephant ahead,
Carrying shovels to clean up the way,
And invite us under the tent.
The clown interrupts each display
Of circus performers’ great feats.
The clown make us laugh to distraction
And keeps us in our seats.
The clown is what we best recall,
For memories are short.
We may not remember what we see.
But, we remember how hard we laughed.
The circus is not a school to teach.
The circus is a business to empty our pockets
Until it once more moves on.
The circus is not a church where we pray.
But a place we feel it is okay to play.
When the tent stakes are pulled and the circus train pulls away
All that remains is an empty field
Trod into mud on rainy days.
MY FELLOW AMERICANS
I hold my tongue.
It takes strength I do not have.
Whimpers escape
On shattered breaths,
In silent screams.
The fight worries my soul,
Battle weary and choking,
On words held tight inside.
Once the scream begins
I doubt I could stop.
I wait for your speech.
I yearn for your promise
To stop the authoritarian
Who has taken over our house,
Emptied its vaults,
Stolen its wealth,
Sold its power
To the highest bidders.
So, I write. That I can do
While I wait for you.
To me, this nothing new.
Do you believe me now?
The people’s house is no more.
Oh, the structure still stands,
It’s East Wing destroyed.
It rose garden paved over.
Its grounds defaced.
It is no longer democracy’s safe space.
No woman, nor child yet protected.
Hidden files of pedophilia and rape
Keep Republican representatives
Of the people away.
No chance to obstruct
as we fearfully watch all we love destruct.
Money directed from its appropriated place
Into the pockets of the man in disgrace,
Who crowns himself king,
And demands all kiss his ring.
Our right to rule ourselves now firmly displaced
By cruelty and hate,
absent a single moment of grace.
There are no longer two sides.
None of us are left with any pride.
We the people now have no place.
Unless we stand together to fight
The destruction of freedoms that are our constitutional right.
The day begins with signs
Of all that any patriot finds
In need of expression
To resist oppression.
We line the streets
Feet deep
Only to meet
Aggression
From those who seek
Our suppression.
Gerrymandered districts
Are incomplete,
Unable to meet
Fair representation,
Denying the nation
one person one vote,
Intimidation afloat
In every state.
We pray it is not too late.
We pray our efforts matter.
We pray our mad-as-hatter
Administration
Stops destroying our beloved nation.
We sing. We dance. We shout.
This is what democracy is about.
No kings today.
No kings in any way.
No kings over courts’ justice.
No kings over any of us.
Every king eventually falls.
We do not want a king at all.
It seems all you do is wait.
I know what for.
As do you.
But is your imagination
bright enough to see,
loud enough to hear,
courageous enough to speak?
Do you believe you can cope?
Have you lost all hope?
Does fear hold you captive,
dim your sight,
close your ears,
silence your tongue?
Do you most hide
from lost pride,
knowing what you most fear
is already here?
Open your eyes.
un-stop your ears.
Loosen your tongue.
Resistance, too,
has already begun.
DECONSTRUCTION
The streets were lined for blocks on end.
Signs reminded all who rejoiced to attend
Why they walked and talked and smiled and waved
At passing cars who braved delays
While drivers honked horns and shouted out
“Vote him out and make it a rout!”
Costumed critters danced to our delight
Knowing their freedom would give him a fright.
Deconstruct the lies we have been told.
Deconstruct the narrative being sold.
Deconstruct the bullie’s hold.
Deconstruct institutional mold.
Gather in peace the young and the old.
Stronger are you, more wise, more bold.
Deconstruct so we can rebuild
What he has destroyed with his minions’ lack of skill.
We know how to do this, and more.
We have done it many times before.
My thanks to my friends in Clintonville area of Columbus who helped me attend this moment of patriots’ challenge to the con men robbing the USA of its power, wealth, ideals and humanity. The lack of media coverage was appalling. The misrepresentation of attendance numbers cannot be challenged when media fails to provide images of the gatherings. A local station covered it AFTER it was over and crowds had dispersed. Another stated hundreds attended when it was actually thousands. We are here. We are resisting. We are going nowhere until the despotism and kidnapping of people and the Supreme Court, universities, news organizations, social media outlets, medical and public health Institutions… even our very language and the meaning of words and phrases has been brought to an end and freedom restored.
We shall not be silenced.
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