A poem for today - A blank Stare

[scariestj]

The blank look
The silence
As you see those illegals rounded up

The blank look
‘You’re overreacting!’
As your bodily autonomy is stripped to cheers of joy

The cheers keep on coming to the sound of tax cuts
And silent at the sound of teachers
Going to food banks and going without so their classes can read and write

The blank look
‘The Economy is doing great!’
The Line goes up; As does unemployment

‘Why do YOU care? They don’t deserve
You’ll think that
As if you can never become one of them

The blank look
The silence
‘People are scared, people are being dragged off the street by the secret police!’
In 2025 as for 1943

Then you child is crying
They haven’t seen their friend after their apartment complex was raided
Teachers counselling their class that they keep their doors shut if ICE come round

Are you still silent?

The shop you go to on the way to work
For a quick lunch or a chocolate bar
Closed – owners have gone or disappeared
An annoying inconvenience?

You are late to work and reprimanded
Traffic jam as two teenagers flee
From masked enforcers as they shout ‘I’m 15!’
A blank stare to your boss

You have some time off
But the parks are shut
An annoying inconvenience?

Are you still silent
Are you wondering where will there be a point
When you are next?

Are you comfortable
That it won’t happen to you
That is until it does
Wherever you are?