Right Before Christmas
The Tenor of the Times in VerseÂ
by Pat LaMarcheÂ
‘Twas right before Christmas and all through the house The Fiscal Cliff proved Congress an unfaithful spouse The elections were but a few weeks gone by Leaving lame duck politicians unwilling to try  In a nation where children sleep without beds And political hacks argue the sex of who weds Stories of straight generals betraying their wives Captures more front pages then these children’s lives.  Meanwhile in Pakistan amidst drones’ late night clatter One lone college kid tweets the facts that do matter He noted the incidence of each deadly strike Showing the world what true terrorists are like.   The military that dwarfs all other world powers Will re-strike the same place in less than an hour These “double tap” plans have only one goal Killing first responders: expanding death tolls.  Some Afghan troops have become our new foes As anti-U.S. sentiment continues to grow Australia and France withdraw from the fight Our redeployed troops now doubt that they’re right.  And the military can lock up anybody they choose. Gitmo was torturing and civil rights we did lose. While NDAA once called for your permanent detention Other liberties remain lost, too numerous to mention.  Elected officials don’t listen to polls Huge corporations have purchased their souls No matter the lawsuits constituents file “Citizens United” trumps all the trials.  Now, Roberts! now, Scalia! now, Thomas you vixen. To Stevens! to Ginsberg! you all should’ve listened. You sold the elections.  You whored the republic. Now reps only listen to dollars and rhetoric.  Through 2012 the election grew scary Republicans put up a slate oh so dreary “Eliminate minimum wage!” cried the only girl in the race. Though women earn those wages nearly every work place.  Religious groups choose where breast cancer grows Because they restrict where their grant money flows Then research is halted because birth control Makes clerics irate about deleted souls.  Feminists push back after Congress debates With only male experts the time girls should wait To sleep with a partner or who pays for the pills That prevent pregnancies and cure other ills.  Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, John Edwards as well Were ruined by sex stories others did tell And though they were thwarted and lost their elections No committee was ordered to govern erections.  Not surpising to any who look back at the year Obama has won relaxing many folks fears. Except a million children will still go to bed Not knowing which meal they’ll likely get fed.  But Christmas is here so let’s spread some good will; We don’t have to think of people we kill Like folks without healthcare or “enemies” in our sights. Happy Christmas to All, ’cause we’re so sure we’re right. ÂPat LaMarche is the Vice President of Community Affairs at Safe Harbour, Inc. In 2004, she was the U.S. Vice Presidential nominee for the Green Party. During the campaign, she traveled the nation living in homeless shelters and on the streets; the book she wrote about those experiences is Left Out in America: The State of Homelessness in the United States (Upala Press, 2006). LaMarche writes a regular political column for The Bangor Daily News and contributes to the Huffington Post; hosts The Pulse Morning Show that broadcasts from Maine; and is a Contributing Author for New Clear Vision.