this orange-faced goblin
beckons me to be violent
I refuse
keep yappin’, Mr. Yapper
spit your lies
cover the eyes
of the faithful who
follow you to an abyss
I refuse
you want me to wail
to call you names
to get down & mud wrestle
with political pigs
but I’ll retain decency,
conscience, altruism
take the higher road
not fight this fire
with more inferno
lay down on the lawn
I refuse!
you can take what we own
decimate our bodies
try to ruin our minds
but you can’t take the essence
of me
or the rest of us
WE REFUSE
(Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash)
Note: This poem is inspired by a prompt on dVerse about Protest Poetry. The prompt made me think of nonviolent protest movements, how the movement had people submit their bodies to the harshness of illogical authorities and governments. It also made me think of our current U.S. president and the sheer madness of American politics at the moment.
