Poetry from Patricia Doyne

RECIPES FOR A POWER-GRAB

Scenario #1

A country rich in minerals and trade

located on a gateway to the globe—

just might change hands if pressure is applied.

Attack! And say you’re bringing liberty.

Attack with well-armed troops, with drones and bombs.

Ignore all blood and grief. You come in peace.

Accept surrender. Now this goldmine’s won.

Scenario #2

Work from within. Don’t fire a single shot.

Build a base of angry guys with gripes.

Unite against a common straw-man foe:

immigrants, women, LGBTQ.

Repeat bold lies. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Once you’re President, usurp the power

of Congress, and the country’s highest Court.

When you own both—no checks, no balances.

Then bust departments one-by one; install

head honchos with no skills, in debt to you.

Appoint a scapegoat– purge department staffs.

You now pull all the strings. No oversight.

Then strangle the economy with tariffs.

A trillion dollars can be milked this way.

Populace will be beaten, fearful, broke.

The country’s yours, and you’ve not fired a shot.

Scenario #3

By tactics fair or foul, gain full control

of weapons that could atomize the planet.

Use the threat of nuclear revenge

to bend all countries to your will. The Heads

of States who moan about earth’s climate woes

will buckle when you threaten Armageddon.

They know that you don’t bluff. You never lose.

You’ll own the biggest empire ever known.

SYNCHRONIZED CHAOS