Thailand Awakens

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: WORLD DEMOCRACY

Thailand Awakens

 

The world is awakening from

A long and dangerous slumber

As the strongmen take power

And work to destroy democracy

As they attack the free press

As they attack civil society

As they attack the right to assemble

As they attack the right to protest

As they attack the right to dissent

As they dismantle their constitutions

As they challenge the right to vote

As they burn the bill of rights

As they burn books of free thought

At first the people go along

It is easier to go along

They watch in utter disbelief

They deny their own eyes and ears

It cannot happen here

They pretend it doesn’t matter

It can’t touch them where they live

Until it does

Then they awaken

Slowly at first and by degrees

Until the masses finally rise

To reclaim their human dignity

To reclaim their human rights

For some there is still time

For others it is too late

The damage done

Democracy once lost

Is difficult to regain

Pray it is not too late

Not for Thailand

Nor for us