Today’s poem is a found poem from a David Corn column that appeared in Mother Jones on March 24, 2021.

If You’re Invited, Don’t Go To This Party

The Republican Party is not a party
of ideas or policies.
It is a party of 
grievance
—including phony grievance—
that is animated 
by the organizing 
principle of tribal 
resentment. 

It is hard to compromise with that, 
and it is tough to achieve unity 
with those who embrace 
such a stand. 

GOP leaders now see 
their future as tied to 
the exploitation of unfounded angst, 
the fanning of false narratives, and 
the suppression of democracy. 

The party resides within 
a dark, nonsensical, racist framework—
and there is no sign this is a framework
its leaders 
or its voters 
wish 
to cancel.

©David Siller – 2021

*****

For the first 100 days of the Biden administration, this website will feature a new poem of What’s Next!? These pieces can be calls to action, calls to attention, or calls to anger. They will light the way and guide the fight. They will get us moving and keep our momentum. They will be filled with hope, with anger, with sorrow. They will get us into good trouble and point out the trouble we need to stop. They will be polished gems, or rough-cut drafts of rage, or in-process pieces searching for peace. They may be haiku or tanka, limericks or lyrics, verses free or fettered.

#100Days100Poems of What’s Next!? wants your poems, your prose, your visual art (photos, drawings, sculptures), your music, your short films and animations. Interpret the theme as broadly as you’d like.

If you would like to submit to this endeavor, please send an email, with your visual art (as .jpg or .pdf) or your poem saved as a word document (.docx) to waxyandpoetic AT gmail DOT com. Include a short bio (2-3 sentences) and social media/website information. All rights remain with the author. Please address any formatting preferences in your email. Waxyandpoetic.com will post submissions time permitting, with at least one per day beginning 20 January 2021.

Read, follow, share, submit, live, love, spread light! Don’t forget to use #100Days100Poems !

Today’s installment is another found poem. This time it’s a social media post from Boston College Historian Heather Cox Richardson. If you’re not reading her “Letters From An American,” you really should.

Time Gives & Time Takes & America Keeps Spinning

“It was just a week ago
that the Senate acquitted
the former president of incitement
of insurrection.

Since then,
the Republican Party
has continued to split
apart,
Texas has frozen
and its people are suffering,
Rush Limbaugh has died,
coronavirus vaccinations have ramped up,
and the Biden administration
has told the world
that America is back.

Calling an early night.
Will be back tomorrow.”*

*The original post from Prof. Richardson appeared on February 20, 2021.

*****

For the first 100 days of the Biden administration, this website will feature a new poem of What’s Next!? These pieces can be calls to action, calls to attention, or calls to anger. They will light the way and guide the fight. They will get us moving and keep our momentum. They will be filled with hope, with anger, with sorrow. They will get us into good trouble and point out the trouble we need to stop. They will be polished gems, or rough-cut drafts of rage, or in-process pieces searching for peace. They may be haiku or tanka, limericks or lyrics, verses free or fettered.

#100Days100Poems of What’s Next!? wants your poems, your prose, your visual art (photos, drawings, sculptures), your music, your short films and animations. Interpret the theme as broadly as you’d like.

If you would like to submit to this endeavor, please send an email, with your visual art (as .jpg or .pdf) or your poem saved as a word document (.docx) to waxyandpoetic AT gmail DOT com. Include a short bio (2-3 sentences) and social media/website information. All rights remain with the author. Please address any formatting preferences in your email. Waxyandpoetic.com will post submissions time permitting, with at least one per day beginning 20 January 2021. Read, follow, share, submit, live, love, spread light! Don’t forget to use #100Days100Poems !