fourth of july and i have to remind myself that

they're scared. 

that's it. 

they: shout misspelled arguments in all caps send soldiers to peaceful 

protests yell into microphones turned all the way up shut down dissent 

in their great big white-columned house lie through their teeth make 

promises they don't intend to keep throw knowledge into bonfires invite

nazis into their government celebrate veterans but turn around and slash

the systems keeping them healthy attack immigrants on soil made from the

bones of people who were not born here try to get us to have more children

but oops sorry they don't get an education say work harder you're

just lazy while building a brick wall around the one percent we're never

going to see snatch people off the streets and won't return them make

tax cuts that really increase taxes for the rest of us to make room for

money that goes towards parties and fairs and statues and things

most of us won't ever visit make wild claims about places they've

never seen never read about never thought about laugh at religious

people oh unless they're christians then hey go ahead we've got plans

for you to pray for our country pump misinformation

into the world like a rotting heart and its corrupt aortas say this

place we live in is beautiful with one hand while the other is signing

a bill that'll help keep beauty away from everyone else.

they're terrified.

terrified that we the people will rise up against them and win.

they wave flags and reverently tell the story of the legendary patriots who won

a war and a country in one fell swoop,

but as soon as one little girl holds up a sign that reads HANDS OFF

they're off and running, scared that the very thing that made their power

will happen again.