All of Our Faces

The faces we show to those whom we know

are seen in the light of familiar...

clashes, it seems, are rare and extreme

we would not recuse, nor need an excuse

to share who we are and all of our views.

And yet there are those who may disagree

their thoughts are opposed to our own,

for not all we say is one’s cup of tea

and it’s hard to appease when they only see

  an excuse to decry and bemoan.

We are who we are, naysayers be damned

there are much bigger fish to be fried;

and those who don’t like it can just take a hike

for life is too short to be picked on or slammed

or ceding to snide reprimands.

The people who know us know who we are

they’ve walked on the same path we follow

they know what we’ve done, what we’ve overcome

accept us in spite of, or maybe because of,

   all of our sides, not just one.

© Ginny Brannan 2020

Same Story, Different Day

It’s really alarming the news is disarming

the words keep encroaching each day,

we walk a fine line as we search for the lining

to hold the naysayers at bay.

And I will admit that it’s hard to get through it,

reveal how we feel like we’re drowning;

we try to survive as we search for the light

with the negatives so overwhelming.

The constant barrage while no one’s in charge,

each quip a new skip on the record…

told nothing to fear, while the other side’s cheering

the frustration we feel is collective.

These daily attacks, while we can’t change the facts

what we can change is our gut reaction,

yet even to breathe while feeling aggrieved

is hard with such noise and distraction.

Yes, our world is insane, but we must remain

steadfast in commitment to truth.

Would we be sated if we took the bait

and gave in to the lies and the ruse?

So let me remind that history’s unkind­

recording each smile, each gloat;

each angry rant, each sycophant,

and each time some lawyer invoked.

And as we await while both sides debate

with words well-dispensed to provoke,

and though all seems dour, we still have the power

to change where we are by our vote.

So take a deep breath, hold onto the truth

hold onto what’s right and what’s decent;

and call out the lies, the baseless denials

lest we ever become too complacent,

while we bide to decide his replacement.

© Ginny Brannan 2020