Sidetracked Charley

A wronged witch of the south and A wretched fool of the north. Side by side behind the dais stood Toe to toe Nose to nose. Arguing their differences before a hired audience  fools Questions and answers all scripted in double speak. This cannot end well The commentators behind the scenes whispered One is losing his sanity The other her mind. And so as the disenfranchised watched in growing  horror helpless To find a way out of the capital the nation for which it stood burned. Ashes, ashes it all fell down. J. Binford-Bell August 2016

The college convened Their duty before them Validate a monarch Or preserve The republic He would destroy. Never before Such a clear choice. Never before Such dire consequences Not either or But none of the above. Nobody spoke They milled around Like cattle in a stock yard. Sheep being led To slaughter Through a gate of their choosing. Peter Brown Someone yelled Who is he Another replied. Me, one of the milling sheep replied I am Peter Brown. Who are you? Several asked in one voice. Nobody, Peter Brown answered Red or Blue The condemned Wanted to know. Brown, Peter answered. Silence reigned Even the milling ceased All in favor A voice in their midst asked All said aye. And that is how We came to live In this White house On a green lawn Peter Brown said To the yellow press. Jacqui Binford-Bell July 2016