American Autopsy

The bloated corpse is on display

for everyone to see;

the bubbling innards broadcast live

on everyone’s TV.

How did things end up this way

the people howl and cry;

why did no one tell us

that democracy could die?

And so we watch and vultures come

to pick the dead bones clean

and people stand, and stare, and shrug

at such a ghastly scene.

The time to act was long ago

we missed our chance to act

to call the doctor, not the priest

for the medicine we lacked.

And so we watch the burial

and wonder what comes next;

I’m sure the word will come to us

by email or by text?