The Day the Circus Came to Town

 

The excitement, it was palpable,
the messages, subliminal–

as the show paraded through the streets.

New in town, as yet unknown,

their voices droned in monotone, 

with subtle words of cunning and deceit.

They kept the restless crowd engaged, 

enrapt with something new;

intrigued inside their mystery and mystique.

And then, it seems, as if on cue, 

came the circus grand review

and so our curiosity was piqued. 

The tigers were all snarling, locked inside their cages

while the elephants came lumbering up behind;

then the tarot readers, soothsayers and sages,

diviners of some future they’d define.

Acrobatic wonders, gravity defiers;

lovely ladies dressed to entertain,

a swallower of (s)words, a juggler of fire—

a dog and pony show, as promised in their flyer,
all smoke and mirrors cloaking their campaign.

Some of us stood up to leave, too many still remained

to watch the emcee turn into a clown;

his face ever-contorting, expressions alternating–

and so the show continues in this vein,

as he pulls out all the stops to shut us down.

So many sit in silence, they do not made a sound

reporters all were stifled where they stood;

diminished to profanity while watching the insanity

set in motion by the orange clown—

ever since the circus came to town.

© Ginny Brannan 2026

"There are two ways of being fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true." Soren Kierkegaard

"It is easier to fool people than to convince them they are being fooled." Mark Twain

"They muddy the water to make it seem deep." Friedrich Nietzsche

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me." Anthony Weldon

Treading Water

 

What would it take to convince you to lie?
How much can you pocket before you’re found out?

Time’s growing short and we’ve read some reports
that you’re failing your promises – too many to sort.

Your followers know that you no longer shine,

they’ve stopped looking closely, afraid what they’ll find.

The favors are curried in crypto for cover;

you’re building a shelter, afraid that it’s over—

We scour the headlines and look for a sign
each day finds another child confined,

while the cost to our country is taking it’s toll

this hatred and fear is not how we roll...

We haven’t forgotten the laws that you’ve broken:

– trying to convince the election was stolen

–J6 and all it’s related events

–all of the women you’ve paid to silence

–insulting reporters and making a scene

–painting pool blue just to watch it turn green

–wasting our taxes on cage fights and war

–all of the ships that you’ve sunk off the shore 

until you get bored; then you pivot again

wreaking havoc and chaos, you call it a ”win.”

The “untruths” are stacking while you’re still redacting

we’ve long stopped believing the stories we’re fed,

the truth will come out, no matter what lies you spread.

© G. Brannan 2026

Dire Straits

 

War is a game that the oligarchs play
to confirm their importance and try to portray
their significance and their efficacy,
and how they're remembered in history.

Like chess, it requires a great strategy:

are you willing to sacrifice all of your pawns

out-thinking the enemy with hope they’ll abscond?
A game on a board would have much clearer stakes:

an unhindered view to opponent’s mistakes– 

being able to see your opponent’s reaction
without obstruction or distraction.

But with lack of experience, how can you contend?
A player not only attacks, but defends–
you can’t hide intent inside lies of omission,

atonement not found in some act of contrition.
Balance and strategy are learned over time–
the more understanding, the higher you climb.

knowing how to refrain when you think you should strike,

reigning your words when you want to incite.
To confront with no foresight, in anger and spite
only prolongs the ongoing fight.

And your short term successes and minor defeats

have yet to inspire a hasty retreat–

you can’t solve or resolve or even the score

when opponent won’t cede to your ongoing war.

© Ginny Brannan 2026

Checkmate

You quote your “triumphs” tooth and nail,
song and verse, so well rehearsed;
you seek to have your followers align–
They hang on every word

as if you speak the Gospel truth
the epitome of Jesus Christ, defined.
Non-answers are your answer

attacking the attacker

you obfuscate while making an excuse.

And nobody is “winning,”

can we go back to beginning?
Those promises you made were just a ruse.

But kindness doesn’t shout
and never seeks the spotlight
it doesn’t boast of everything its done.

It doesn’t shun the world
nor treat others unfairly,

nor base success on what is lost or won.

While some are meant for greatness

clearly some are not
relevance is not found in some name;
yet when precedence is set

it's best you don’t forget…
that not all of us are subject to your game.

No matter how you try

the truth won’t be denied

you cannot bury everything you’ve done

How long will it take

until you make your last mistake?

I believe the countdown has begun…

© Ginny Brannan 2026

Political Cartoon by Nick Anderson Jan. 2025

How Did You Know?

 

naive and clueless,
I stumbled upon you

and you? witty, sharp
always the rebel

you cracked the shell

calmed the chaos
the 'yin' to my yang

bonded, yet alone,
we move forward

 …still (and always) becoming

© GB 2026

My attempt at minimalistic poetry. It may be too minimal, too vague, but again, that's the point. There is a story in this that comes full circle, timeline condensed. If you know, you know. With gratitude.

Honoring Our "Mother"

 

Emerald lands and sapphire seas
her wealth is in diversity,

we relish every sight and sound
from many, one; and so we’re bound.

Even those with smallest talent
take part in this precious balance.

So we make a covenant
before destruction’s imminent,

and seek the knowledge that we need

found inside her lands and seas.
Upon this fragile jewel we spin
and hold onto our hope, within.

© Ginny Brannan 2026

Honoring Earth Day 2026

Image: Piqsels.com

Existentially Speaking

 

traveling through space

small and insignificant
in a sea of stars

eight billion voices

our words do not hold meaning

where the silence speaks

lost in the vacuum

a single footprint in time

molded in the dust

we search for answers

inside hidden worlds and words
seeking translation

from darkness to life

we come into existence

searching for light

© ginny brannan 2026

Haiku day was April 17th.  

A few haikus, existentially speaking.