IF FREEDOM DIES
What’s next for us, if freedom dies–
For those of us, they smear as woken—
must we wear their yoke of lies?
They seal their ears, ignore our cries,
devour hateful words he’s spoken—
what’s next for us if freedom dies?
While his slavish media amplifies
divisive words, and racism unspoken—
we must not be bound by a web of lies.
Meanwhile, we wait and agonize
on what comes next—is it foretoken
that the hammer falls, and freedom dies?
It’s clear to anyone with open eyes
where we’re headed, a hell betoken
for those who speak against the lies—
Resist we must, in words free-spoken,
lest our beating hearts be broken.
Keep speaking out against the lies,
so precious freedom never dies.
Alan Abrams was an art school dropout, a middling carpenter, and ace motorcycle mechanic. After more or less straightening out his shit, he had a long career in building and architecture. Striving yet again for reinvention, he took up writing. Several dozen of his poems and stories have been published in literary journals in the US, UK, and Ireland, but as yet no one will touch his novel. Nevertheless, Bottlecap Press just published his chapbook, “Some Places Have No Name.” Abrams is also the founder of Sligo Creek Publishing.
Featured image in this post is, “US Flag on a grave at Chelsea Cemetery” by Thayne Tuason, licensed via creative commons 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
