Protest IX

Winter is near,
we pitched tents
in occupied park,
bought heaters,
got mom to send warm socks,
prepared to stay
no matter how cold
to remind everyone
about injustice
rewarding the few,
impoverishing the many,
but the wealthy mayor
ordered tents taken down
so we’d melt away
with the first snow,
stop annoying
the servants of privilege,
yet some of us stayed
despite the coming freeze
hoping Americans
might remember Valley Forge.

Gary Beck spent his life as a theater director/playwright. He has had 21 poetry books, 7 novels, 3 short story collections and 1 book of essays published. Gary’s original plays and translations of Moliere, Aristophanes and Sophocles have been produced Off-Broadway in New York City, where he resides. Read other articles by Gary.