Poem for the Fourth of July

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You can 

speak truth to power

in numbers, together, in droves.

but if you dare to 

speak truth to power 

in solo or go it alone,

they will follow, harass, denigrate you

disappear you for weeks

right from your very own home.

pay off cops, 

backroom talks,

corrupt judges 

seal your fate wink 

nod,

handshake. 

There, 

now you can go back

to your home.

They’ll rewrite 
your entire existence

change your present,

crush your future

so I want you to know, 

don’t ever,

please never,

try to 

speak truth to power alone.