mourning for our country

This recent election has left many of us Americans feeling completely

distraught and full of despair. I hadn't been able to create

anything at all post election except the collage in the previous post.

A kind, English artist friend of mine created the collage below and 

dedicated it to me. I am extremely touched. He is allowing me to use his image to go along 

with a poem he inspired by creating this.

Trumped.

by Bob May

The Devil has his own reality show.

He is more orange than red.

It is surprisingly cold here in Hell.

Standing close to the flames of hate 

and still, 

I’m chilled to the bone.

The lunatics have taken over the asylum,

while the sane ones scream and weep 

 in despair.

When we manage to get a few hours of sleep

It is only to wake again  

In what was previously known 

as the Free World.

All the monsters that were under our beds

Have all come out and joined forces

There is no pushing them back --

The monsters who were once like

Cockroaches --scuttling from bright light,

Now stand proudly in the spotlight with their 

Smug, angry, hateful smiles --

Asking now for tolerance for all their spewed bile.

The rest of us no longer have eyelids -

We can never look away from the horror.

Even my own laughter frightens 

Me now as it has such a 

Hysterical edge.

poem by Vivienne Strauss