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    The New Verse News presents politically progressive poetry on current events and topical issues.

    Friday, March 3, 2017

    TO SAVE THE COUNTRY

    by Brenda J. Gannam


    ACLU People Power


    with sincere apologies and enormous gratitude
    to paul simon


    the problem’s not all inside the beltway, can’t you see
    and the answer’s not easy, if you take things personally
    i’m going to explain it—so we can defeat this tromperie
    there must be fifty ways to save your country
    fifty ways to save the country

    you say it grieves you so to see your rights withdrawn
    and you can’t sleep at night, you toss and turn till dawn
    so please tell yourself you won’t just lie there, fret, and yawn
    there must be fifty ways to save your country
    fifty ways to save the country

    just jot down a plan, dee ann
    go to the poll, noel
    vote out the jerk, kirk
    come, listen to me

    march on the square, claire
    give your voice sway, josé
    protest the wall, saul
    soon, results you will see!

    join in a rally, sally
    promote the facts, max
    speak out the truth, ruth
    till the seed grows a tree

    e-mail a friend, hind
    make your tweets ring, ming
    keep the thoughts straight, kate
    they can’t stop you and me

    start a campaign, lorraine
    draw a cartoon, haroun
    sing a strong song, jong
    even better, all three!

    counter that spin, gwen
    support the press, bess
    write an op-ed, ahmed
    for the truth sets you free

    yes, the truth sets you free!


    Brenda J. Gannam, an Arab-American living in Brooklyn, has been a member of the New York poetry community for 25+ years and has published her poems and haiku in a variety of journals and anthologies in print and online.

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