Prose Poem of the Day

I love writing these things, and I haven't done one in a while. This one I did because I am hugely fed up with political ads, prerecorded calls, opponent-bashing, prevaricating (and outright lying), and politicians CONSTANTLY using the word "fighting."

"So-and-so is FIGHTING for you!"

"She FIGHTS for the rights of those who have no voice!"

"He is always FIGHTING to keep jobs in our state!"

"Together they FIGHT to cut the red tape and distribute more of our county's resources to families in need!"

...agh...

Enough. Already. Please.

So in response, here is my prose poem of the day.

...

Politicians
seem to have run off with
honesty and integrity;
someone should yell
"Stop thieves!"
and demand that they be arrested for
stealing
some of the most important qualities
a person
or a nation
can possess.

It seems like an open-and-shut case
but during the pat-down
it is discovered that
No
Physical
or
Circumstantial
Evidence
proves that they ever came into contact
with honesty and integrity.

Now either they have stored such things
for future use
when everyone has lost interest and no longer
connects them with the crime, or
they are telling the truth
and have not seen, heard, or even
brushed up against
the missing
virtues.
But that would be a contradiction
because we all know that
politicians
don't
won't
can't
tell the truth.

Maybe honesty and integrity
ran off
all on their own.

After all, no one ever made them feel
wanted, needed, or welcomed.

And when the profilers and psychologists
give their official report
they will say that
neglect
is one of the main reasons
family members leave home.

All the friends and neighbours will say,
"How could we not have noticed that they were
missing?"

The media will
as always
ask,
"How do you feel?"

Everyone will
sob
and say,
"We just want them back."

The detectives will say,
"Too late. There is no evidence of a kidnapping
and no force was involved.
They're mature adults, and
no one
can make them come back."

The politicians will send their
deepest and most profound
condolences
and will say that they will
fight
for those left behind
and to find out what happened.

One of these days you will see the case on
48 Hours Mystery
which will make you suspect
foul play
even when there wasn't any.

Face it.
They made a choice
to walk away.
All we can do is wave
and fake a smile
while the politicians keep
fighting
without weapons.