Where art thou Diogenes?
Not on Capital Hill, not among
the powerful, not in the White House,
nor among the power brokers of business.

Only among the citizens who carry
your lantern, as a cell phone, and
are threatened and beaten and
then shot for doing so.

In the era of performative democracy,
during the rise of hypocrisy and
a fledgling, evil autocracy,  there
are no reasoned leaders to be found.

Oh, Socrates, is it futile for you
who seeks truth, in an age of
alternative facts, where the powerful
trample the truth along with the people?

They will ask you to end yourself
rather than answer your questions,
and submit to reason, exiling, and
disappearing without justice.

Infamy does not worry them,
for they plan to rewrite the history of now,
more so, they do not care as they’ve
enriched themselves at our expense.

Yes, philosophy, history, truth,
reason and empathy are but constructs
of the human condition they wish to twist
and manipulated for fascist rule.

Hold on to the truth, hold on to
reason, empathy and honesty
for this is their weakness, if we continue
to believe, then they cannot win.

As with all dictators and their
henchmen and henchwomen no
children of the next generation will
be named after them.

The names Donald, Pam, Kristi
among others will not find their
way to future generations, just as
the name Adolf faded from consideration.

Oh Diogenes, we are out here
still, we are honestly seeking
a better world for our children
and the children of all people.

Oh Socrates, there is still
truth to be discovered, if we can
only continue to ask the questions
and not waver in our commitment to truth.

We the People will Overcome
We the People will Vote
We the People will Win
We the People, Believe.