How Will The Republic Fall?

How will the republic fall?
A raging mob that storms the wall?
Waving Uzi and grenade?
Ransacking through some hallowed hall?
An edict from a balustrade?

Or will it be some mindless war
A tweet, an old unsettled score
A rage ignited
Insult that must be requited
With a brilliant flash, a distant roar
As cities, one then the next, go off
Like roman candles, vanish in a billowing cloud
The ash of buildings, bridges, lives
Falls like snow into the hand
Of the last one who survives
Our very world, our past
Falling like confetti from the sky,
Blown apart at last

Or is it this:
A famine sweeps across a plain
That offers only dust
Where once grew grain
One hundred million cars all fall to rust
Targets now of our blame
Awkward relics of our lust
And greed and shame
The land become a vast
And ghostly grave
Strewn with steel-frame skeletons
Of our wondrous past

Or will it be
Because we chose, of our free will,
A false Messiah to fulfill
A vain and senseless dream
To punish those who did us wrong,
Expel the ones who don’t belong,
Declare our greatness on live-stream,
Lead us through a heavenly door,
“Redeem us, Savior! O redeem!”
And poof, the republic is no more.

For all we hold most dear, that seems
So permanent, so set
All the comforts of our world
Are in truth as delicate
As a glassy crust of ice
That forms upon an April night
In a rain-filled flower-pot
And melts off in the morning light

26 COMMENTS

rottingpost January 21, 2017 at 9:19 am

I’ve decided to be my own first commenter here to share a few thoughts. I’m posting early as I’m off to join the march in Boston shortly. Apologies to those hoping for some comic relief. Poetry is a bad habit i have yet to entirely wean myself of. (And poetry that, “makes a statement” is perhaps most odious of all.) At least it gave me something to do other than pace, mumble to myself, weep, shout at the air, and despair (dammit, that rhymed again! now i’m serious trouble). Wishing you all a good day. – D.
barkleigh January 21, 2017 at 11:34 am

Bless you for marching! Those of us on crutches march with you in spirit (trying to shake off the deep feelings of despair and disgust).
- Anonymous January 21, 2017 at 2:30 pm
  
  Brilliant.
  - rottingpost January 22, 2017 at 10:40 pm
    
    thanks very much. much appreciated.
- rottingpost January 22, 2017 at 10:45 pm
  
  I am sorry you weren’t able to. It really helped, mentally, to be there among 175,000 fellow Bostonians. You feel like you are actually doing something…even if the reality is our power is terrifyingly limited. Still…I left feeling more energized and activist, and less depressed. Hopefully it will last. Hard to say. We need to keep up the momentum.
Anonymous January 21, 2017 at 11:42 am

Brilliant you’ve said it all
- rottingpost January 22, 2017 at 10:39 pm
  
  thank you. Appreciate your taking the time to read.
Anastasia Oh January 21, 2017 at 10:39 pm

E.) All of the above?
- rottingpost January 22, 2017 at 10:38 pm
  
  E) Correct!
jonathon January 22, 2017 at 7:36 am

Poetry…..very brave. But it’s good. Nice job.
- rottingpost January 22, 2017 at 10:37 pm
  
  thanks for noticing that. I had huge trepidation about posting this! With comedy i worry people will not find it funny. Poetry…far worse. I worry they will roll their eyes, cringe, squirm and retch! 🙂
  - Robert March 1, 2017 at 2:57 am
    
    No eye rolling from me, nor others I’d say. For who among us cannot be touched by a heartfelt poem.
    - rottingpost March 1, 2017 at 1:04 pm
      
      thanks. much appreciated.
ann b January 22, 2017 at 11:09 am

Marching, pussy hats even poetry. Whatever it takes! Thanks. I enjoyed this piece.
- rottingpost January 22, 2017 at 10:35 pm
  
  thanks. and yes. WHATEVER IT TAKES!
foodinbooks January 23, 2017 at 12:43 pm

Very powerful. I am not much for poetry, but this spoke so eloquently about the fears so many of us have now. I don’t believe any of us ever thought we would live in a world where 140 characters might literally be the end of all of us. A beautiful and disturbing poem for the future. Thank you for sharing.
- rottingpost January 24, 2017 at 12:57 am
  
  thanks much. hopefully it was not too polemical or preachy.
Kathy January 23, 2017 at 11:28 pm

Thank you for posting your poem–it perfectly sums up what so many of us are
Kathy January 23, 2017 at 11:34 pm

Oops, feeling. I think poetry is a wonderful antidote (as is humor) to what passes for public discourse in this post-factual world. Poetry has a way of cutting to the core of what is important, and uniting people. I’m thinking of the lasting power of chants and protest songs.
- rottingpost January 24, 2017 at 12:52 am
  
  thank you. protest songs, yes. poems….not sure. they occupy a pretty tiny space in the public mind. and that is not a complaint at all. it’s just reality. still, very nice to see that this one spoke to some people. thanks again.
Gina Ruben January 24, 2017 at 2:58 pm

Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire, but if it had to perish twice I’d say that for destruction ice is also great, and would suffice. Robert Frost
- rottingpost January 25, 2017 at 1:50 pm
  
  i know it well. from grade school. a similar theme, no doubt.
How Will The Republic Fall? – biblebeltsite January 30, 2017 at 4:26 pm

[…] Source: How Will The Republic Fall? […]
biblebeltsite January 30, 2017 at 4:30 pm

This was glorious indeed. While I love your musings for their wit and grace, this poetry was stupendous.Thank you, again for your wisdom and ability to help me concentrate on the work ahead.
- rottingpost January 30, 2017 at 4:41 pm
  
  thanks so much. glad you appreciated. wish i did not feel so compelled to write something so dark.
  - biblebeltsite January 30, 2017 at 5:54 pm
    
    It wasn’t that dark. It was honest, and alarming . However, I see it as really good coffee. Starbucks for the soul.