if the people
speak
& no one listens––
is this still
a democracy?
the chairperson
points his gavel
& threatens with his
teeth & eyes
the chair of the
mesmerized committee
speaks out
as though the people
haven’t spoken
but We the People
are more united
for this
do we now need
to demand the right
to speak?
& the right to be
heard?
or in this spinning
country
have we irretrievably
lost those
rights
as mere citizens?
even the small
small issue of a
micro-bridge
in this weeping world
demands
attention
we mean no harm
to others––
we have caused
no harm––
we want no
enemies
the conditions
here have not been
fair
in the public halls
of equity
& this fact
rumbles
in our hearts
our voices––
everyone’s voice––
must speak––
must be
heard
this is human
this is right