Land of the free?

Some call it the land of the free
But is it? Look carefully and see
Law upon law controls us all
Business, bedroom, women's health, all
Politicians looking to control
They know better? Than the whole?
Christian right sit in their pew
They look at us and say "but not for you"
I think and wonder how they can
Fuck the Bill of Rights, it's my land man!
"If you don't like it, then you can leave"
Is there no room for different belief?
The poor,minorities, don't leave them behind
How can people be so blind?
GOP out of control now
Killing economy, why, and how?
Blocking a president in their hate
Leaving a wasteland in their wake
Can we change? Take back the land?
Guarding it, being fair, lending out hand?

Steel

the arc of the steel
catches & reflects sunlight
the feel of the grip
sharkskin rough
the slight almost tug
as the target separates
a piece falling
to the ground, separated
the ease of cutting
knowing what the steel can do
defending
offending
onlookers amazed
at how casually the swordsman
cuts the tatami mat
no, not a katana or even two handed
a baskethilt guards the hand
a sense of doing this before
on a field called Culloden

The news

I didn't know what to think when I got the news
So much time had passed
Mind a whirl with questions
 I had never forgotten her
She was in my thoughts most days
But the pain was there each time I saw her face
 I look at a picture
Face upturned and joyful
A time when we were so close
 Should I call?
The question haunted me
Could I reach out?
 Moving past pain is a difficult thing
 Disappointment in what I could have done different
The past cannot change.
 I looked at my phone
A text would be ok?
"I hope you're ok."
 I waited and wondered
Would an answer come?
And the the beep of a new message waiting.