Tristan Robert Lange
Inauguration Day
Have you not heard that it has been written,
Do “not follow the crowd in doing wrong.”
Don’t “be swayed by the crowd to twist justice.”
Surely, you’ve heard that it has been spoken,
“If you can’t fly, then run,” then followed by
Walking if not running or, then, crawling.
Don’t be fooled “by the crowd to twist justice.”
Clearly, you’ve known that it has been spoken,
“Whatever you do...keep moving foward.”
“If you can’t fly, then run,” followed up with
Walking and then, if need be, some crawling—
No doubt, you’ve seen that it has been written,
Don’t be moved “by the crowd to twist justice”—
“Whatever you do...keep moving foward.”
Look, a rider comes as swift as lightning!
“If you can’t fly, then run,” or, if not, try
Walking, or in desp’rate moments, crawling.
Hopefully, you’ve followed what’s been written.
Don’t be had “by the crowd to twist justice”
“Whatever you do...keep moving foward.”
Arriving with justice and waging war,
The rider comes swift upon oppressors.
“If you can’t fly, then run,” or perhaps try
Walking, or, as you damn well know, crawling—
Don’t be had “by the crowd to twist justice”—
“Whatever you do...keep moving foward.”
Hopefully, you’ve heeded what’s been written.
The One who was slaughtered by Empire is
Arriving with justice and waging war.
“If you can’t fly, then run,” or by God try
Walking, or, as you surely know, crawling.
Don’t be owned “by the crowd to twist justice”
“Whatever you do...keep moving foward.”
Hopefully, you’ll heed what has been written,
Do “not follow the crowd in doing wrong.”
© 2025 Tristan Robert Lange. All rights reserved.
POET’S NOTE: This poem is a message of hopeful perseverance for those fighting for social justice and a warning to those who think that justice comes from corrupt businesspeople.
Form: Revelatory Cascade; Meter: Pentameter. This is the seventh poem written in my new Revelatory Cascade form, utilizing a quote from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., found text from Exodus 23:2 and paraphrasing parts of Revelation 19:11-16. The Scripture quotes are in the New Living Translation. The specific quotes are below:
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you are called to testify in a dispute, do not be swayed by the crowd to twist justice” (Exodus 23:2 NLT).
“Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords” (Revelation 19:11–16 NLT).