Poetry

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By

Norberto Franco Cisneros

If We Aren’t More Vigilant We Might Lose This Democracy

Overheard conversations by U.S. citizens in various places and in the electronic media

STEVE BANNON, Breitbart Editor and Trump’s advisor: “The reason we’re not afraid of Democrats is

they want to have pillow fights; our side goes for the head wound.”

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: “We have created a Republic if you can keep it.”

MICHAEL MOORE: “He (The man occupying the U.S. Presidency) will not go away. He has plans for not leaving,

and knows he will not be impeached. CEOs and tyrants like their autonomy.

They and his ilk are not going anywhere. This president does not believe in democracy.

He is used to being in sole control to rule his castle through his edicts,

and does not like to be questioned or contradicted. (It’s the old do as I say diktat of dictators).

The white supremacists know they have a friend in this administration.”

He supports White Supremacy contrary to the ‘melting pot’ idea of camaraderie

we Americans have become accustomed.

Shootings of brown skin people, especially by cops, and the killing of children in schools are common place,

as well as the countless massacre killings all perpetrated by incited, angry madmen against innocent citizens.

The fall of the American economic empire is around the corner and predicted by economists.

The boom economy is a mirage and many whites who believe what this quack-in-chief says are being fooled.

The collapse of the American dollar is reported to be around the corner.

Millions of citizens are no longer as loyal to America as they were in the past.

Corporations and businesses have no fealty to this nation for they have sold their souls to profits.

This presidency touts the proliferation of a Caucasian majority embracing and encouraging

its pathologies such as separating migrant children from their parents.

Con artistry, corruption and demagoguery are in bloom.

Truth has been made moot, and the citizens do not know fact from fiction anymore.

Truth has been twisted and confused; lies are destroying trust in America and around the world

evidenced by the United Nations laughter at this president’s boastful claims.

The world knows he is lying.

He is undermining the institutions that have served our population well through the decades.

This presidency is rotting America’s soul.

Will America survive this death blow, maybe a final death blow, at our genuine democracy in the world?

Will Republican senators and representatives respond and finally awake from their moral stupor?

Will they overcome their reluctance and good ole boys’ mentality to do their duty

to repair the mess they have created against the American people?

Will the white hats rush to our country’s aid in time to save us?

Indomitable American Spirit

The silence of forever

Speaks loudly to me

And should speak to all who draw breath

Time is too short for lies

Too short for entreaties

Too short for life

Playtime is over

Lies spoken pounce on our minds like famished tigers;

Unfettered truths blow away some people like puffs of dandelion fluff

but they will eventually die devoured by critical thought

The indomitable American Spirit will survive

this onslaught of falsehoods

Lies will not destroy this great country

nor the clamor of unbridled and misguided zeal

We are too strong to fall for fake golden glitter

My heart asks me,

“Where do you think we’re headed?”

“To hell if we don’t change our ways,” I yell.

Heaven or hell, hell or heaven?

Does it matter? It matters.

We still are the hope of the world.

God is not to be seen, but HE is everywhere

Eradicating the last vestiges of ego driven, self-interest,

with the growing corrupting influence of bad governance

Be encouraged, friends, remember you are not alone

common sense will return to guide us

but not by this ‘flock’ of coyotes that need to be cast out.

BUT BY OUR VOTE. Vote!

Norberto Franco Cisneros

My poems have been published in the following publications: Indiana University Journal Chiricu; Avocet Review (Avocet Press); Snow Jewel (Grey Sparrow Press); Ilumen (Mouthfeel Press/ Sam’s Dot Publishing) and several others, including e-zines, Black Petals, Ruhatish and have been a Featured Poet in Poetry Soup