Military Lockdown

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

Military Lockdown

 

While much of the nation is under siege

At the mercy of a runaway virus

Staying in taking refuge staying away

The nation’s capital is in lockdown

Armed soldiers on every corner

Barricades and razor wire surrounding

The institutions of government

 

The least represented city in America

Transformed into a fortress from without

Or a prison from within

 

The question now goes out to every

Soldier every cop and every citizen:

Which side are you on?

 

Will you honor our democracy?

Will you stand by the law?

When it really matters is your

Patriotism made of straw?

 

There were many reasons to go along

Many reasons to turn away

Many reasons to pretend it’s okay

Now there are no more reasons

You cannot condone treason

Without being a traitor

 

Five persons have given their lives

Five families are in mourning

How many more before you understand

The depth of this depravity?

 

 

Color Blind

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: GEORGE FLOYD SERIES

Color Blind

 

To be black or brown in America

Is to be born a person of interest

A perpetual suspect by birthright

 

To wear the blue in America

Is to be beyond question

Beyond suspicion or reproach

Beyond the reach of justice

Beyond the veil of accountability

 

To be black or brown and angry

Is guilt beyond all reason

A verdict preordained

A sentence without mercy

Without doubt or second thought

 

For justice is not color blind

It sees the colors black and brown

And hands a sentence down

It sees the color blue

And presumes the word is true

 

No justice is not balanced

And it is not color blind

For it depends on your skin

The justice you will find

 

Countdown (The Final Daze)

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

Countdown

 

After four long years of bitter division

Four long years of catastrophic decisions

After four long years of sarcastic derision

We have seen the end of a gloomy vision

And we’re still standing

 

Countdown from the number nine

We appeal to every force divine

 

Countdown from the number eight

We pray the end comes not too late

 

Countdown from the number seven

Let all our prayers be heard in heaven

 

Countdown from the number six

Empty out his bag of tricks

 

Countdown from the number five

May our deliverance at last arrive

 

Countdown from the number four

May we finally close the door

 

Countdown from the number three

A vision of the world to be

 

Countdown from the number two

So many things we must now do

 

Countdown to the number one

Praise and glory it’s finally done

 

Attack of the Mutants

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: CORONAVIRUS SERIES

Attack of the Mutants

 

As the virus spreads at an accelerated pace

They cannot rule out a mutant race

 

It seems so foreign and out of place

As if it came from outer space

 

How very different it would be

If the enemy came from across the sea

 

Would we mobilize every known resource

To defeat this rabid beast?  Of course

 

We are dying at a disturbing rate

Failure to mobilize would seal our fate

 

It is past time to sound the global alarm

We must protect all people from harm

 

We cannot stop to ask what cost

For if we do all is lost

 

Pandemic Rage (Return of the Virus)

RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: CORONAVIRUS SERIES

 

Pandemic Rage

 

A shot across the bow

A warning heard both far and wide

While insurgents stormed the capitol

While the people were preoccupied

While impeachment grounds were drafted

The pandemic threat intensified

 

In case you hadn’t noticed

A mutant virus made the rounds

And though it started in Great Britain

It has found American ground

 

If you’re one who thinks you are immune

Beware this virus will take you down

For every move we’ve made is wrong

And what is lost may not be found

 

A nine-eleven every day

Pearl Harbor has been surpassed

If we fail to vaccinate the nation

How much longer will it last?

 

Tyranny & Rebellion

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR:  AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

Tyranny & Rebellion

 

In the wake of a failed insurrection

We must take full account

A coalition of madmen with guns

And the mindless rabble

Assaulted the nation’s capital

And were allowed to breach

They carried the usual slogans

Of reactionary unrest

Confederate and American flags

Don’t tread on me!

Nazi symbolism

Tokens of white supremacy

 

They claimed the right to Freedom!

But their actions spoke of fear

They were afraid of losing hold

They were afraid of losing power

Afraid of losing their weaponry

Afraid of being knocked down

The rungs of wealth and privilege

And they wanted all of us

To feel that same fear

 

In that they succeeded

We were afraid

We are afraid

As well we should be

 

They got one thing right

And everything wrong

They have a right to rebel

Against the chains of tyranny

But they failed to recognize

That the tyrant holding the chains

Was their own