Lamar Speaks for Lots and Lots of Us

By Philip Styrt

 

We know that the President lied
As he tried to corrupt the election;
Still, we’ll “let the people decide.”1

Whether he should be disqualified;
But for now we’ll provide our protection.
We know that the President lied,

Though we think it should be classified,
And we’ll try to deny the connection:
Still, we’ll “let the people decide.”

If we don’t shove impeachment aside
We might risk loyal voters’ defection.
We know that the President lied

Now we choose to let lies be our guide,
Blaming others for his through projection:
Still, we’ll “let the people decide.”

Even though by the logic implied
His defense is a huge misdirection:
We know that the President lied;
Still, we’ll “let the people decide.”

 


Philip Styrt is an assistant professor of English at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA. His creative and critical work focuses on traditional forms of poetry and drama. You can find more of his work, primarily focused on sonnets, at 140syllables.blogspot.com.

[1] https://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/1/alexander-statement-on-impeachment-witness-vote

Photo credit: Tom Hilton via a Creative Commons license.

White for Suffrage, Red for Riots

By Emily Knapp

 

Crack.

watch as we fracture.
shards of a broken union
used as weapons and
knives

(get out)
(we don’t want you)

heavy hearts as
women burn in India and
reds/yellows/greys
paint the streets of Paris.

We are all

fighting we are all

mad

stealing back our stars and
ripping our stripes

preservation

in the name of
democracy.

We are waiting for change.

For now,
we must navigate the slush.

And wait.

 


Emily Knapp is a native of the Chicagoland area, but fled West because she really likes seeing the sun in February. Her apartment currently resides in Denver, but you can find her in the mountains, writing, hiking, or skiing. This particular poem is in response to the New Yorker article titled, “The Impeachment Hearings and the Coming Storm.”

Photo credit: Jennifer Boyer via a Creative Commons license.