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The resistance is happening.
I thought we needed to resist in 2017, but now it’s ever more imperative. On Saturday, I couldn’t believe the visceral reaction I got as I listened to the Republican talking points our representative spouted. We couldn’t help but respond like we did in the video, for he did not have one word to say against the nonsense. Now I have given him complete ownership of beliefs like: “Long Live the King” and “Zelenskyy is a dictator”. I left that meeting feeling like he will not be reelected in ’26. I hope it’s true. Jay Obernolte, one of the richest congress members, has a doctorate in Public Administration and his dissertation was called “”Managing Budgetary Conflict Between the Executive and Legislative Branches of Government.” Important and timely, yes. It seems he may have had something to say, but no. Not.A.Word! He repeated trump lies and gaslighted the audience for an hour.
I wrote this poem today for The Stafford Challenge.
Rejuvenation
What did I do this bright day
when resistance seemed spent
and in vain. I rallied and went
for a bike ride without delay.
“Blinded and corrupt,” I say.
My country’s governing, I lament,
but thoughts to heaven sent
up on the ridge. Fears away.
Resistance is our decree
being human, becoming me
speaking up and out, no curse
The arc will bend, we’ll see
for Justice and Morality will be
our hope, in better and worse
_____________________________
Rhyming words were taken from Gerard Manley Hopkins sonnet, “I wake and feel the fell of dark, not day.”
The absolute gall of these people. I’m glad you were able to get outside. I’ve also found that helpful when I need a break from the state of the nation.
Akilah @ The Englishist – https://theakilahbrown.com/
This post is for us all. Thank you for directing us the the sonnet, one of the three his estate executor called, “the terrible sonnets.” I didn’t know his story or the genesis of his deep alienation and separation from his life before he converted to Catholicism. You have given his rhymes personal, immediate emotion, especially, “lament…heaven sent” and then climbing skyward to the ridge where, “Fears away.” Thank you for this.
Denise,
Your congressman and all others in the GOP are cowards. They’ve mad a Faustian deal to stay in power. Many will get dumped by their orange overlord anyway. Neither of our senators, nor our representative will step foot in Idaho and have a town hall. I honestly don’t know what it will take to deprogram the MAGA electorate. These are scary times.
The cowardice on display by elected officials is staggering. These puppets have no backbone, no decency or moral fibre. It’s despicable – and the people will remember. Wasn’t the entire point of the revolutionary war to escape the control of a king? Isn’t the constitution in place to prevent tyranny?? Seems like they’ve forgotten their own history. We have our own political party leader in my country who’s moulded himself in Trump’s shadow, and I despise him with every fibre of my being.
“I wake and feel the fell of dark” is the most beautifully evocative lament. I love that you are making art and poetry from grief and rage.