Marjorie Moorhead
In for a Fight
The rule of law; the rule of law.
Nobody is above The Rule of Law.
Sounds like children’s sing-along song.
One you’d clap hands together to
or jump rope swinging in on the beat,
rhythmically smacking pavement under feet.
“The rule of law” we say with awe,
“applies to all”. Short and tall; colors any hue;
red, white, ecru. In our country, no one is above it.
We believe this to be true.
What then, to be done,
when a rat’s taken control of the helm?
Sinking ship, course set due crash-ward;
ideals sold out; government run back-assward?
Yes, we’re horrified. But, is it surprising?
Fall asleep at the wheel; things run amok.
The rule of law; the rule of law.
We took it for granted. Nobody gave a cluck.
Now, the fox rules our henhouse. We’re chickens all,
and could be in for the fight of our lives,
making sure sacred pillars don’t fall.
Marjorie Moorhead is the author of Survival: Trees, Tides, Song (Finishing Line Press, 2019). Her poems have appeared in HIV Here & Now, Rising Phoenix Review, and Sheila-Na-Gig Online, as well as in several anthologies. Her poem “Taking a Knee” will appear in The Poetry Box’s Poeming Pigeon Sports issue in Spring 2019. Also forthcoming is a collection with her group, 4th Friday Poets (Hobblebush). Moorhead writes from the NH/VT border.
SUBMIT to What Rough Beast via our SUBMITTABLE site.