day after democracy

the orthodoxies
of the right and left
are contradictory––

Trump could have bridged
them like a healthy
paradox

He instead
set off an alarm of
anger––
waves of rage &
fear

children could not
sleep––
grown men slept with
their guns under their
pillows––
safeties off

our nation
is polarized as to
war

what a grand learning
opportunity––

to disarm hate &
rancor––
to relax into the
new––
to prepare ourselves––
all of us––to build
our future
together

how about overwhelming
consensus with
unanimity?

suspicion with good
faith?

we are, after all,
Americans––
masters of Teamwork,
Strategy &
Compromise

America Great Again

means the day after
Declaration was signed––
the day after the british
surrendered at yorktown––
the day after the victorious
allied troop ships sailed for home––
the day after humanity
walked on the moon––

the forces of the
universe hold our planet
together––
keep our atmosphere
in place––
keep us breathing
& able to
care

Trump
the man––
the era––

whether a curse
or a blessing or
whatever sits
between––

democracy
puts the matter
squarely in our
hands