Watching the Impeachment Hearings
Trigger warning: images of violence and suffering
Like a slap in the face
a punch in the gut
an assault on the soul
Feeling physically ill
like bile in the throat
and emotionally bruised
The president’s incivil sycophants,
dumbing it down, playing to their base,
such utter ignorance
The president’s obfuscation
bombardment of lies
and efforts to intimidate
Performing my civic duty
following these proceedings
submitting to their violence, suffering
I cry, mourn, lament, grieve
I reflect, contemplate, pray, act
my being an act of resistance to this dominance
This I know is true: our young, unfulfilled
democracy is clearly on the brink
of falling into the abyss of fascist oligarchy
Down with the raw, partisan, power of dominance
down with efforts to control society for private gain
down with the violence being done to our psyche and souls
Lift up the alternative vision of freedom and liberty
together in authentic, diverse communities of belonging
of all peoples in their truth and wholeness, for the common good
Herb Stone
here&now working poetry
November 2019
