January 6,2021 Poem by L MILTON HANKINS

Today,
I watched in horror as insurrectionists,
[hooligans and rabble-rousers]
stormed our nation's capital.
Today,
While chaos reigned, I was afraid
our republic was slipping away
at the hands of a radical few.
Today,
Sadness plunged me into despair
that a president would encourage
a mob to march on up to the hill.
Today,
I feared this nation might perish
like democracies of ages past
for lack of patriotic courage.
Today,
I wondered if America would ever sing
again the songs of liberty,
know the peace of unity.