Carpe diem

by Mitch Highfill

Wheat farm going under because USAID was eliminated?
Have the day you voted for.
Grandma’s nursing home is closing down
due to Medicaid cuts?
Have the day you voted for.
71 Corporations filed for bankruptcy in July?
Have the day you voted for.
Your learning-disabled child will receive no more
educational services at school?
Have the day you voted for.
Soybean farms collapsing under China’s response
to Trumps trade war?
Have the day you voted for.
Whiskey makers in trouble under Canada’s response
to Trumps trade war?
Have the day you voted for.
Your local hospital in your small town is closing
due to Medicaid cuts?
Have the day you voted for.
Evacuate warnings not issued before your
town was hit by a hurricane, your home destroyed,
your family injured due to DOGE cuts to the
National Weather Service?
Have the day you voted for.
No FEMA appearance after the hurricane has passed
due to DOGE cuts to FEMA?
Have the day you voted for.
Can’t afford that new car you need to get to work?
Have the day you voted for.
Immigrant spouse zip-tied and thrown in a van,
never to be seen again?

Have the day you voted for.
Healthcare costs quadruple and you have
a chronic health condition?
Have the day you voted for.
Masked well-armed thugs roam your city,
firing rubber bullets at priests knelt in prayer?
Have the day you voted for.
Just got laid off because the bottom fell out at work?
Have the day you voted for.
Suffered the effects of food poisoning because
food regulations have been lowered and FDA
staff have been fired?
Have the day you voted for.
Family planning all gone?
Have the day you voted for.
Child being forced to pray in school?
Have the day you voted for.
Have the day you have waited for all your life.
All day every day.