LOSING CONTROL

I watch with a weary world for the decision to be read,

Under the beating burn of the sun’s beam, crowds cry out with fear as they slowly see a right die.

The reactionary ruling is revealed and I feel awash with dread. A right to privacy is dead.

As the rage rightfully roars, I feel impotent from my lowly level in life. I then see the freedom festivities beginning to fly in a cloudless sky.

The sorrow seen falls into a brief slight slumber as birthday banners billow in the breeze,

Burgers, beer, and baked beans are consumed as a jubilant nation is giddy from its birthday glee.

The patriotic passion projects by proud directors punctuate the big screen,

Red, white, and blue stain the streets and sky amid the soaring songs of liberty.

Our worries are wordlessly wrangled away.

Despite this, these parades are not a panacea for me. My thoughts float along to those victims who have a pregnancy that they cannot freeze,

I eat festive feasts and feel vexed that I could be a virtuous and then vacuous voice in fighting this decree.

I wonder how many people will be hurt by this and fade into the background unseen,

While many see freedom around every corner, I see the beginnings of unhinged tyranny.

As the day comes to a comforting close, I still cannot help but look at certain parts of my republic with dismay.

The sun rises and sets on days to come and sadness soaks back into the air and hangs like a heavy hammock,

Our republic regresses by a religious ruling.

People see a faint line and their hopes are horrendously dashed,

Sanctuary is sought in states seeking to be secure.

I watch as people plod through their lives, their rights taken by a few,

In these moments, I see a clouded future murky with despair.

Our world is already adapting to this assault and it seems that outrage is becoming sporadic.

I will stubbornly strive to seek out senators who can save a person from seeing an unwanted baby’s mewling,

Though I am uncertain that this will lead to the renegade ruling being bashed.

I feel my actions and donations will be useless when I see those who champion say that the solution is to be demure.

But when I see new generations of women and men stridently stepping through the streets to stall and strike this scourge set upon us from the court, hearty hope soars anew,

My sadness slowly slides away like a sloth, and even though I am a powerless person on this perilous planet, I can contribute to a coordinated collective goal of making my country fair.