Poem: Uncivil Discourse

Demagogues and demon dogs

 Running for head of state

A violent, hostile crowd

Pushing against the gate

Uncivil discourse

Is the norm, not the exception

Rapidly leading us

Towards a major insurrection

Power hungry people

Using fear as a weapon

Keeping the uninformed

Under control and threatened

Why have we let this happen?

When did we decide to say

“We should only count wins and losses?

“Saying only ‘No!’ is okay?”

Why are collaboration and compromise

Seen as signs of being weak?

That it’s better to be an obstructionist bully

Than be thought of as meek?

I weep and I hope

That common sense will find a way

I fear, though, that ignorance

Will ultimately win the day