Poet’s Corner: Who’ll Stop the Reign?
We watched it happen long ago;
Clowns streaming live our future show:
Lives falling, from hate’s ether air;
Other’s watching without care;
Lies bleeding from the human race;
While ashes blow their untold grace.
And in the time it took to tell?
We did not task you.
Nor did we ask you:
Who’ll stop the reign?
Once we came to help you be
Liberated, safe and free.
We threw away the recipe:
For sawdust cakes;
And toxic shakes.
We stopped the iron horse which took
Away your spirits, dreams and books.
We understood how courage looked.
We would not task you.
Or think to ask you:
Who’ll stop the reign?
Now we wear your shoes on us.
Freedom’s stain beneath the bus;
Rounded up, mocked for fun,
While ignorants are pointing guns:
Horses saddled;
Lady Liberty, rattled,
Crying Atlantic Tears–
Knowing it will take her years–
To put this history in her past;
The minutes slow; as time change fast.
With burdened tasks,
She always asks:
Who’ll stop the reign?
Chief and Commander,
Can’t count on him;
He’s marching to his
Populist hymn.
The cabinet?
It’s full of bulls:
Knitting love notes
With sheep-slain wools.
And as they dare us;
Saluting Heiress;
They pray to snare us.
And when they task us,
They don’t dare ask us:
Who’ll stop the reign?
Divided, splayed like some old fish:
Smoked or fried; we’ll be the dish;
While others wait in lines and wish;
To keep our rights;
Stay safe at night;
Sing our song.
And all belong
With cross stitched hearts;
Linked by smarts.
And still, the task is…
Few left to ask is:
Who’ll stop the reign?
Will we lock the sane away?
And bring them out on chosen days?
Watch parents point; hear children say:
These were the free?
Musing with their Liberty?
Believing they were part of “We”?
The nerve to task!
And actually ask:
Who’ll stop the reign?
From one who speaks behind those bars–
As woman, standing strong with scars;
And men beside her, standing strong–
Because we know it won’t be long:
Before you fall
Like Berlin Wall;
And acid rain
Becomes your pain;
Because…
Because we chose
To plant the rose.
Because we spoke
And didn’t choke.
Because we’re light
And ‘stood the fight.
We took the task.
And should you ask?
We, stopped the reign.