Divided

 

As we continue 
to add to the legacy
of our country’s imperfections

our political extremes 
are once again 
weaponized

bombs
long range rifles
don’t answer the door.

With compassion gone
and outrage appearing only when
one of your own falls victim

it’s has become hard to tell 
if this is a Fascist overthrow of the governed
or the beginning of the next Civil War

            or both.

We now face the fear
that we have always been divided
and may forever be

as we once again watch
the dream of our democracy grow faint
when we choose to no longer 
respectfully manage our dissension.

September 2025

Ken Owen Van Niddy Press