Anarchy Unmasked
Let dogs of anarchy desecrate
this history of earned heritage,
as shameful palls shake
souls of long defended freedom.
Withstand this crucible of vile hate
set deep in mindless true believers,
followers waving flags of folly,
in vulgar disgust beneath daemons.
Let us all stand tall and proud,
defending democratic doors
and windows to fearless hearts, trust
this legacy; let it be, set it free.
“Stand ye calm and resolute,
Like a forest close and mute,
With folded arms and looks which are
Weapons of unvanquished war.”
Let tyrants dare, in agony of despair,
to dislodge righteous love for freedom.
***
Quotation is from The Masque of Anarchy by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1819).
Look both ways. Say never to tyranny.
Let us mind the gaps but withstand our tested love of Liberty,
that masked delicate lady in scrubs who defends life.
Our Literary Journey 
I’ve had a hard time finding the words to describe my reaction to last Wednesday’s horror show. Yours and Shelley’s words work well for me.
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Good to know, Marilyn.
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Bill, you’ve managed to weave a powerful poem that encapsulates a week filled with tyranny and the undermining of our democracy. Well done! And I love the photo you chose as well.
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Thank you, Sue. It has been of week for the books.
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Indeed! I was hoping for a quiet opening to 2021 after the year we’ve had!
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A week that will live long in history and infamy. The only hope is it gets better from here on. Your words sum up so much of what has happened and what is at stake.
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Thank you, Iain.
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Watching it live on my TV screen from thousands of miles away my only thought was, what is the world coming to? It’s as if we don’t enough problems already.
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I feel so ashamed that it happened and was apparently permitted. To such levels of horror do we allow ourselves to be led.
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Excellent words for last week’s shame.
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Thanks, Kathrine.
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That deserves a proper salute, Bill. Well done.
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Thank you, Joey.
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