Sleep catches me unaware
Reading in my chair.
A loud noise as a commercial airs
Awakens me from nightmares.
No, it is the news that intrudes
On waking dreams sharp and crude.
I have been awake more than I knew
Unable to tell what is untrue or true.
And so, I read some more
Of an entire reality to explore.
I try hard to understand and accept
A new reality in a democracy kept
Captive without due process of law
Which exposes all of our flaws.
Racism breathes deep and still
With a long-ignored strong will.
We too easily pretend
it has nothing to do with us, my friend.
Lie once and it becomes then
easier to lie again and again.
And we have lied for centuries now.
Shame beads sweat on every brow.
Cognitive dissonance
Makes us create distance
From truth, facts and connection.
Shamelessness offers protection.
Too many are willing to deny
What is clear to the clear-eyed.
I see no end in sight
And remain sleepless night after night.
annarino writes 
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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