Thursday, August 7, 2025

Autocrats

A Work in Progress
61


Autocrats come and go
naming in my lifetime 
Amin Ceausescu Sadat…

what’s the half-life for an autocrat?
historians could tell us
kings were sacrificed once they’d served a year
alas civilization has become more woke
since those times when men were warriors
women seldom spoke

now one is threatening irradiation
playing nuclear poker
he’s anted up a nuke strike
not one submarine but two was bid back 
“do you want to start a fight”
if he wants one that autocrat
maybe he’s next up to bat

somebody insane just raised the stakes
threatening biblical Armageddon
who ramps up to ramp down
has threatened nukes before
crying wolf to no avail
instead, the West is doubling down
for a half-life moment has arrived

change will come walls will fall
revolutions may occur
Gaza resembles Hiroshima horror
Alligator Alcatraz is a concentration camp
Ukraine is fighting for all our freedom
Autocrats come and go.



Dick Russell © Richard M Russell
                      2025

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