One Link at a Time

I had a dream
in which I awoke this morning
to find I was enslaved.
Signposts had presented themselves,
I remembered, on the pathway
to today,
but I was too engaged,
too occupied within my Now,
to be concerned.

I had a dream
in which my freedoms were compromised,
whittled away slice by slice
until nothing remained
but these chains.
One slogan at a time,
false promise upon outright lie,
patriotic flags waving,
martial music playing,
our shackles forged
while we cheered.

I had a dream
that my children embraced their fetters,
and accepted what they weren’t,
leaning into the yoke.
The responsibility was mine,
but I was too involved, within me,
to look outward,
to see the uniforms,
the intimidation,
the slander,
to sense the absolute arrogance
of power.

I had a dream
in which I failed
in all I had believed in,
in all that I had hoped for tomorrow.
My silence forged my chains;
my indifference turned the key.
I awoke this morning
to find I was enslaved.