"paramilitary" poems
„...my men in moleskin caps and generally envested in the kind of shabby paramilitary fashion in which one pictures the advance guard at Teruel. Upon proceeding inland, we encountered teams of what I declared native-cannibal-warriors, who, despite being outwardly quite docile, were clearly displeased with the unannounced invasion of their little isle. I began pointing my finger at the savages and emitting ‘pow’ noises, causing the natives to rather cooperatively collapse to the ground by heaps. Having cleared the beachhead, I then realised my love for our apparent guide to this strange paradise, an ermine-like species without any name that comes to memory. I held her close for perhaps five minutes, stroking her luscious, snow-white pelt and ignoring the jealous glances of my subordinates. An anxious look told me she had something to tell me. I bent my ear close, only to receive a sudden impact of her delicate, immaculately carven jaw. Shocked, I relinquished my hold, and she immediately bounded to a low-lying tree behind me, pawing the fruit dangling therefrom with a feline relish“
Feb 6, 2012
Feb 6, 2012 at 8:32 PM UTC
There were times when we at least thought
The United States was deserving of praise.
We served as a model for many nations.
What has happened to those days?
Now we're at the threshold of
A growing movement that seems to be
A direct assault on what we've stood for
And a threat to our democracy.
How we used to criticize
Strongman rulers worldwide
Who stripped their people of their rights!
Oh, how we were horrified!
Now people around the world
Look at us in disbelief
And ask themselves how all of us
Are not overcome with grief.
People who lived in autocracies
And fled because they lived in fear,
Look around wide-eyed and ask,
"What the hell is happening here?"
Insurrectionists being called
Patriots? Voter suppression?
Overturning election results?
A personality cult obsession?
Immigrants becoming scapegoats?
People challenging safe elections?
Paramilitary thugs?
Folks with suspicious foreign connections?
People threatening health care workers
And thinking there's nothing wrong with that?
The breaking down of institutions?
Voters preferring an autocrat?
Apathy will be our downfall;
Our complacency will as well.
There won't be a clang of freedom
From our silenced Liberty Bell.
If we do not strive to preserve
Democracy and make that our aim,
We will suffer the consequences
And have only ourselves to blame.
-by Bob B (10-12-21)
Oct 13, 2021
Oct 13, 2021 at 8:27 AM UTC