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.

So they kept the crowd engaged, enrapt by something new

intrigued inside the 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 a 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 them stood up to leave, yet many still remained,

to see the emcee turn into a clown;

his face ever-contorting, expressions alternating–

and so the show continues in this vein,

while he's counting on his tricks to shut them down.

So many have stayed silent, they have 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

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