collusion

people placed in positions of power
get their way.
people placed in positions of compromise
get their asses handed to them.

the burning squadron
the rampaged streets
the glorified hysteria
the savaged protest.

they wanted this,
they got it.
they go home thrilled with their decisions
and we sit here and contemplate what next steps we need.

protecting rights of those who smash property
justifying governance to those who see tyranny
challenging militarization in the face of scared grandmothers
defending pacifism to those who are violence’s witness.

mutual satisfaction
spread thick, a layer of oozing external contempt
and internal validation
with their snickering smug “you’re welcome and go fuck yourself” attitudes.

my dialogue is mostly an inch from my face;
this has never been the realm for staunch idealists
to debate what painful testimonies must erupt
before change is ever actually made.

I await further exposé,
but undoubtedly in vain;
they did well at colluding that day
to limit what price they’ll ever pay.