What we had won
We almost lost
Democracy we gained
Three centuries past
Almost slipped
Through the faults
With fists, mallets, guns and poles
Surging, angry, charging hordes
To stop the vote
Six months ago today
Less two days
Almost brought the House down
Could have tumbled
Shattered
And crumbled
On this July 4
We would be
Sifting through the ruins
Looking for surviving remnants
Of our cherished ideals.
And lest we believe
“DT” failed
Insurrection subdued
Democracy prevailed
Lest you say just move on,
I have news for you.
It was the Prologue
The assault on democracy
Voting and cherished rights,
Moves from Capital to local sites
Rippling through Georgia, Florida and Iowa,
Ripping through Texas, Arizona and Montana
Seventeen states
Twenty-eight new laws
Sixty-one bills and counting
To chip away, weaken and gnaw
At the democracy we gained
Today, we celebrate
What we won
What we secured
What made us
What defined us
Let’s look closely
At the Stars and Stripes
Its edges frayed.
Ripped threads and broken seams
Threatening to
Tear our dreams
It’s time
Pick up your tools
Find a stronger thread
Of colorfast dyes
In red, white and blue
Once again pleasing our eyes
Weatherproof against the scorching sun
Against angry winds, pounding rain and
Screaming storms
Darn those holes
Stitch together the broken souls
Make the nation indivisible and whole
Hold the ideals we stand for
Our unalienable rights
Life, Liberty and
The pursuit of happiness.
We have the ability to define our fate
It certainly is not too late.
HAPPY JULY 4th.
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