When sanity is silent — insanity speaks…
Original DDE™ art: “Tattered & Battered” by: rob kistner © 2/26/26
—-<§>—-
the union was never iron
only threads of perspectives
pulled taut across a loom of equality
it was a highway to hope — a new future
filled with promise and possibility
stretched far out before us
but that bright promising highway
now seems shattered — damaged
deeply potholed with lies
ballots once whispered hope
like wind through tall grass—
each blade leaning toward consent
now the manipulative hands of a few
threaten the sanctity of the ballot box
trying to fold voices into silence
now a few want to violate that sanctity—
to suppress the true voice of the people
and the truth for which it stands
courthouse hold their breath—
marble pillars remember
the weight of honest footsteps
laws bend first in language—
then in practice—
finally in the quiet of fear
now our lady liberty is blinded—
who used to welcome those in need
now only those deemed appropriate
neighbors lower their flags—
not in surrender
but in frazzled uncertainty
truth is sand in the gears—
ground finer each day
by the engine of corrupt power
Original DDE™ art: “This Guy Needs A Job” by: rob kistner © 2/26/26
when the sane and the just
sadly fall quiet and complacent
the unjust ones among us will rule
still, the shredded fabric of hope listens
for the now muffled sound of the brave
crying out for freedom and justice for all
because a union survives
not in the few’s crushing grip
but in the many’s courageous hands…
that refuse to unclasp—
don’t let go of love
don’t give up!
<~>
rob kistner © 2/26/26
YES YES and MORE YES! I’m reading this politically….in the background is that horiffic “State of the (dis)Union” address and ICE roaming streets as masked men with no rules (cruelty and racism personified) and the SAVE act threatening to disenfranchise millions of citizens from their right to vote. Yours is a post for the time.
With everything this country has allowed to happen in the last decade — I still “MUST” believe we are a country of “sane” human beings. Maybe it’s because I am an old hippie, who always believed in the “people” of this great union, no matter how fucked up some of our leadership acted. I still believe in the people. What it will take to rid ourselves of this POX of insanity I feel may be a rough medicine — but the cure must begin very soon.
Never give up, you say? It was decades ago that I forgot how to even spell surrender. Nice write, Rob.
Thanks Ron! I wish I was 30-40 and the mean, loudmouth son-of-a-bitch I was then. I would be back on stage and in the streets. So-so-so much to protest these days … but the young strong leaders have to step forward right now. I can’t do it anymore physically, like I used to. This being 79 with chronic health bullshit is frustrating. All I can do is speak out from my limited pulpit. HEY OUT THERE, YOUNG ONES … IS ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION?! 😐
laws bend first in language—
then in practice
This is such a powerhouse of a poem, Rob!
Thank you Sanaa! 🙂 I wish so that it was fantasy — but…
Wow powerful and the frustration feels like heat under the skin and I love how “the shredded fabric of hope listens” and hands that refuse to unclasp’e
We should all want to preserve “the sanctity of the ballot box”….for U.S. citizens! I think requiring voter ID is reasonable and also ending mail-in ballots…just my opinion, Rob. Old Glory seems battered, for sure.
I hate to say it because I don’t think it’s 100% universally true but perhaps we baby boomers have just run our course. Hopefully there’s a new generation that will come and not bring as much bullshit as we had. As hard as we tried to straighten things out, seems we couldn’t quite get there. We couldn’t see it. Maybe the next generation can. Maybe there can be a new vision — hopefully. 🙂