Empty words
by Elouise
How quickly things fall apart
Cloaked in bravado and mis-speak –
Brash promises shatter beneath the weight
Of human ineptitude and fierce
Reality on the ground
And yet
Each day the drone goes on
For hours weighty with words
Full of fury plus silence about
What really matters most in this
Nation dying for straight answers
Yet again
Another wandering bombardment
Of jumbled prevarications interrupts
Painting the most upbeat scenarios
We can’t possibly believe —
Empty words drunk on themselves
No, I don’t listen to or watch the “daily briefings” from the White House anymore. They sound more like run-on election-rally speeches (without the hoopla of the crowds), than steady, well-informed updates on COVID-19 and what we can or must do to protect ourselves and others.
The poem is an effort to capture what I’ve seen and heard for myself. Living 76 years has its rewards. One is a long memory of times when our Presidents (of both parties) stepped up to the microphone and helped us join hands as a nation during times of disaster.
No, none of our Presidents has been perfect. Some have been corrupt. Yet on the whole, none in my memory has been as egregiously uncaring about the majority population of this nation as Mr. Trump. His behavior right now is not helpful, not healing, and not encouraging for the short or long-term future.
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 9 April 2020
Photo of White House Press Briefing Podium found at politico.com
Telling the Truth 
in Poland we do have absolutely catastrophic government time at all, the corona virus shows how weak polish government is, so sad! to me, to you, to all the nation
COVID-19 shows how hard we need to work for better future
greeting for You
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Thanks so much for your comment. It’s sad that the things we have in common right now are hurting so many people. Hoping with you for the opportunity to work for a better future. 🙏🏻
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Agreed. The briefings lack vision of the future or dreams for the next generation. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone share the Hope of the Resurrection? Instead we may find an instant replay coming before we are ready for it. Be prepared!
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Thanks, Dave, for your comment about lack of vision. It’s sobering to think about the future and the possibility of an instant replay. Definitely not out of the realm of possibility.
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I have a terrible thought that this one man will go down in history as being at the helm when the United States began an ignominious decline. I don’t understand why so many millions still believe him when even from this distance across the other side of the globe we can hear the POTUS denying things we heard him say just weeks earlier. Let’s hope the decline is not permanent. However Rome collapsed, the British Empire declined as did the Incas and Spain.
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Well said, John. I don’t think anyone dreamed it would be a pandemic that might push things over the edge, especially with Trump in the White House. The damage done since he became President was already taking a toll. Still, I would argue that the seeds of our demise go back to the very beginning of the nation. Not that it makes things any better. In some ways, having Trump in office blinds us to the truth about our history.
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“Back to the beginning of the nation”. Now that, my Dear Elouise is something I would love to see you expand upon.
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Taking it under advisement! 😊
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