As an Oregonian, I know the citizens of Portland (and the rest of the state) will resist and survive whatever Trump’s drive towards tyranny throws at them. After learning of the latest threat, this poem poured out.
Resistance Works
Build up collective passive resistance
against the currents of corruption –
the shocking use of violence,
by saying "no thank you"
and ignoring illegal and immoral Trump
issued executive orders
and unconstitutional actions.
Legally, get in the way of
the bullies
and record their actions and broadcast,
demand no identity masking
of any government workers
in the public space,
encourage and band with
your neighborhood, local
police and firefighters to oversee
the actions of ICE, National Guard
and Federal Troops and insist on arrest
of any such participants breaking
state and local laws.
Buy from your regional farmers,
create emergency state and community
loans and grants
to ensure that no farm land is sold –
be problem solvers of your neighbors' woes,
truth and kindness will light and unite
and remind us -
we are all in this together.
Trump has his terrible and illegal tariffs
but we, too, to paraphrase an old cartoon show,
"have the power" the economic force of our dollars,
to support companies and corporations who
act in the public good – and not CEO profits,
and boycott those that bend a knee
to tyrants and the ongoing greed
of billionaires
whose actions keep shouting
"I must have it all!"
And build, build, build access
to the FREE energy of the sun –
solar and wind electric production,
under our own local control –
will finally break the stranglehold
of oil barons around the necks
of our elected officials –
stopping the profits over people policies
that kill us and the land.
Read to your children, go outdoors, play,
resolve to think for yourself –
turn away from churning facebooks
and propaganda channels
– a time for a vacation of the mind is now -
to unleash the imagination
of what you can do to survive,
to thrive,
and keep your communities
of loved ones and strangers alike
alive.
©2025 Carl Scott Harker
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If you wish, check out my latest book available on Amazon: Best Quatrains of Omar Khayyam – Illustrated: in the Style of…
Omar Khayyam
A poet living in the great Persia of old
Down odd alleys and green valleys strode,
Seeking truths both simple and divine –
Pass a thousand years, his poems still hold.
– CSH
