In Our Great Republic Poem by Alexander Shaumyan

'The worst illiterate is the political illiterate.'
--Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

In our great republic purporting to be free,
We have a choice of candidates: A, B, and sometimes C,
While both major parties are owned and corrupt,
We choose some lesser evil and boast we did our part,
Our part in rubber-stamping the tyranny of elites,
Who claim to represent us until their rule's complete.

Sometimes another candidate comes forth to rock the boat,
To actually take actions for which the people vote,
To end the wars and lawlessness of the entrenched deep state--
Such candidate inspires both loyalty and hate--
But that's the price of freedom, sometimes you have to fight
The oligarchs and the media for working people's rights.

They'll smear such a candidate with endless stream of lies
Of racism, homophobia, transphobia, as they try
To charge him with the crimes that they commit each day--
Those wealthy lying hypocrites fight to the death to stay
On top of wealth and power, where laws do not apply,
While people earn slave wages until the day they die.


September 25,2023
--Alexander Shaumyan