How We Hope

Will cynicism strangle hope in its cradle

now that nine kicked the can down the road?

Will it come clear why they chose to enable

delay, favoring someone who’d goad

insurrection rather than lose to Joe?

An old man of eighty who is slow on his feet

but spry in his brain a formidable foe

carrying the country away from defeat.

Away from judges five males cloaked in black

when they overturned Roe, another whack

at freedom with their fascist clenched fist

who trashed women’s rights to favor a rapist.

In November we’ll know what the nine hath wrought.

How we hope the future cannot be bought.

Dick Russell © 2024