Poetry from Patricia Doyne

SEIZE THAT TROUBLEMAKER—

AND HER TORCH!

After the “No Kings” rally in LA,

signs and costumes milled around, blocked traffic–

until the cops showed up.

Picture this: riot-gear police

seizing blue-gowned, blue-faced Lady Liberty.

They confiscate her torch, then loop a chain

around her waist, cuff hands behind her back,

and march her off, one lawman on each side.

So—Liberty’s too dangerous? Too woke?

Welcomes the tired and poor, asylum-seekers?

Says no one– NO ONE– is above the law?

We the People came downtown today,

seeking solace, strength in shared resolve—

rejecting ICE, that preys on immigrants,

but won’t apply laws to rich pedophiles;

rejecting millions spent to build a ballroom

while health care’s cut, and hospitals shut down;

rejecting war with no goals, no way out,

while old bone-spurs plays golf at Mar-a-Lago;

rejecting loss of three-branch government,

while faux-king stamps his name on doors and dollars.

We twice elected this convicted felon

with track records of insurrection, racism, and rape.

He raised the cost of living, and attacks

free speech, free press, and now, the right to vote.

Eight million, coast to coast, reject this future.

and gather to share anger, fear, and strength.

But in the end, when all the chanting’s done–

there goes Lady Liberty in chains.

A zip-tied symbol of a vision lost.

Patricia Doyne

SYNCHRONIZED CHAOS