My country is not being stolen.
It is being sold to the highest bidder.
Wealth and power
are the voices of the hour.
Not unexpected
in a consumerism frenzy
fueled by media and investors.
Capitalism has its own axes to grind.
Now, it seems to grind down me and mine.
Turning to fascism is an easy turn of face
for a people untroubled by greed and hate;
for a nation built on slavery and Jim Crow,
and denial of women’s rights to earn and grow
at the same pace, with the same grace,
all men seem entitled to know.
Religion once again is used to shame
and disgrace anyone unwilling
to bend the knee to fake gods
and destroy all faith
in a democratic republic of equals
with equal rights to remain free
of religious bigotry.
This is an old story, one we left behind
to build a new nation inspired by the divine
rights of all men and women to be free.
Now thugs are granted bounties
to place their heels on our necks.
Military mission which once defended
is now on our own streets, its purpose up-ended.
Wealth and power which once plundered
third world nations for fossil fuel and cash
now plunders our economy and middle class.
Science once built a solid foundation
for a healthy, productive nation.
All our scientists built is now being turned to ash.
Massive turnouts in the streets.
Massive turnout at polls complete
our voices shouting, “ no retreat! ”
“No retreat! No retreat!”
