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