The First 100 Days
In the first 100 days
I’ve read more than 100 stories
about corruption, collusion
incompetence and lies
I’ve tried to explain a president
who insults people to my grandsons
and played out thoughts of nuclear war
I’ve been heartbroken and rudely awakened
thinking about uninsured sick people dying
and the little North Korean refugee
who cried when she said, “armed with knives
we were prepared to kill ourselves
if we were going to be sent back”
In the first 100 days
I’ve looked up narcissism
fascism, white supremacy and dark money
I’ve gone to bed unnerved
and woke up feeling dirty
I’ve signed petitions
shared information
and haven’t been able to forget
“grab them by the pussy”
“beat the crap out of them
I’ll pay your legal fees”
For at least 100 days
I’ve been drowning in a swamp
a snake oil con of billionaires
burning bridges and rattling sabers
while trying to convince me
the world is flat
I’ve mourned the disregard of facts
of common sense and science
I’ve felt threatened, held hostage and robbed
watching corporate give-aways
and environmental protections signed away
like broken treaties
like blankets spreading small pox
I’ve watched the nightly news
for signs that it will stop
And for every one of those 100 days
I’ve said ‘That’s enough!’
______Colleen Redman / Poets United
April 29th, 2017 2:28 pm
Bravo!!!
April 29th, 2017 2:32 pm
there’s only one solution. We’re looking at someone’s bleeding open pit, and there’s not a thing we–or anyone else, for that matter–can do to stop it.
turn off the news. Walk away from it.
Your heartburn or heartache or pain in the gut won’t change anything except your sleep patterns.
April 29th, 2017 2:59 pm
I’m like a local version of the embedded documenter. It’s not in me to walk away, but I understand why some do.
My friend Mara and I were talking today about how we each are handling it. I said everyone needs to act or react in the way they feel inclined to. It’s different for everyone. She said think about what you love to do and apply your activism to that, protect that, express that.
Thanks, Bill! Let me know when you have your poetry blog up.
April 30th, 2017 9:09 am
I cannot really understand how a man like that can be respected… but apparently he is. Now make sure that it doesn’t happen in France…
April 30th, 2017 9:36 am
100 hours would be too long as regards Trump
April 30th, 2017 9:37 am
Interesting challenges all over the world.. a shifting scene.
April 30th, 2017 10:23 am
All my hairs are standing on end, Colleen. My thoughts echo through your words, my outrage and pain and disgust and all those other things that one can’t almost name because the words might break things.
April 30th, 2017 10:43 am
Difficult to reconcile our conscience. But then within 100 days it was no more domestic, it was to the brink of a nuclear war, that’s right! In business one can flaunt power against one person or a group of persons.
A show of force in foreign relations will impact on the whole population or even the whole region. It gets frightening to think he’s now right through to the first term of office – min of 4 years at least
Awfully sorry on the connecting problem. Thanks for highlighting it, Colleen! 1) Hank already corrected it with a new link at PU 2) Hank used Twitter just to post comments successfully as Blogger and WordPress had issues before. Hank’s Twitter a/c is just for that reason and practically dormant otherwise
Hank
April 30th, 2017 11:21 am
Colleen, every word of this expresses my own thoughts and feelings. I cant believe it is happening. I cant believe no one is stopping him (and his henchmen.) I, too, am so moved by the North Korean girl and her heartbreaking speech. Our world is a bit out of its collective mind at the moment. I am losing hope that collective consciousness will shift in time. But maybe what is happening now will force the urgent need upon us as a species.
April 30th, 2017 11:57 am
Amen!
April 30th, 2017 1:30 pm
I can not understand how a man like that can be respected.. prayers for a better world.. for all of us!
April 30th, 2017 1:36 pm
And not forgetting “I’ll bomb the shit out of them”…
The world is in a sorry state, with Trump an alarming symptom of global crisis. I fear for the millions who will be caught in the crossfire.
Your poem is so full of compassion, concern and outrage, Colleen. I am moved in the reading of it.
April 30th, 2017 4:17 pm
Excellent argument written very well.
ZQ
April 30th, 2017 6:07 pm
Oh Colleen — you have put my feelings into words beautifully — I just don’t know what we can do really and it is so frustrating. How can something not happen. But no matter what that sorry excuse … does, his supporters just keep on lapping it up… and what can we do if people are so gullible.
April 30th, 2017 6:10 pm
I feel for you. Keep saying it!
April 30th, 2017 6:49 pm
Thoughtful reflection here…one hundred hours would have been too much.
May 3rd, 2017 10:37 pm
[…] ayala on The First 100 Days […]
May 4th, 2017 10:01 am
Amen.