Flies

 

I came up with this idea while thinking about the news of the week.  

–Capitol police, testifying about a mob, who voted the same way some of them did.  A mob, who attacked the Capitol Police, even as they carried Blue Lives Matter flags.  And while the Capitol Police testified about their harrowing, near-death experiences, prominent politicians mocked them and denied their version of reality, right outside the same building.

–Olympic athletes bowing out of the games, out of concern for their own mental health.  Out of weariness, of the peering, intrusive eye of the media.  Of the buzzing gadfly, that harasses every public figure, no matter their age or inner frailty.  

–School districts, waging civil war amongst themselves, battling on camera, over the right to mask up our kids, or not.  Insulting one another, draping themselves in the Constitution and the flag.  Whichever side of the debate they represent.

It seems, that no matter what you do in this modern world, you will be attacked for it.  And in a public, demeaning, callous way.  And you are supposed to just take it.

When I first entered the legal profession, there were worries that people thought lawyers lacked civility. 

Now, it seems like everyone does.

I hope, one day, we will approach our differences with more care and compassion.  Thanks for coming by to read.

 

 

Red neck cop

Chews tobacco, spits it out,

And shines his bumper sticker

With his shirt-sleeve:

Blue Lives Matter.

 

Powerful, petite,

Black legs, pumping, locomotive

Twists and lands,

Each hair in place: 

Shows up, for her country.

 

Harried mom

Ushers children to the car,

Backpacked, masked,

First day of school:

Brave, amidst an outbreak.

 

With our microscope, we see

The wrinkles and the fault-lines,

The errors people make,

Though they have done

Their very best.

 

Socrates, a gadfly,

Nimbly criticized decisions,

To hone a nobler character,

Or punish, when deserved.

 

But now, the swarm of flies is legion,

Clustered on each living corpse,

Attacking walking wounded,

Athletes, mothers– anyone,

 

Who holds their head

Above the fray, 

Protecting self,

Or family, country,

 

Daring, in their humble way,

To simply tell the truth.

 

Copyright 2021 Andrea LeDew

 

For an equally dim view of the worth of poetry and pretty words, read All Made Up.

For a taste of life when COVID locks you down, read Darkest Hour.