Poetry
Poetry by Drew Downs
-
The Trouble with Easter
•
2 min read
THE TROUBLE WITH EASTER You have to admit that Easter kind of sucks. Don’t get me wrong, the resurrection is great and everything and I love those cream eggs but next to Lent, this season is all treble and no bass. We spent 40+ days holding back praying and abstaining contemplating the persistent darkness and…
-
So This is Where We Are
•
2 min read
SO THIS IS WHERE WE ARE Teenage survivors speak out. The media follows the story. Some grown-ups pass pictures of the teens with targets on their chests. An adult talk show host teases a teen for not getting into all the schools. Calls come for advertisers to pull ads from her show. Some don’t. One…
-
Closing in on Justice
•
1 min read
CLOSING IN ON JUSTICE The frustrating case of justice delayed, excuses made to slow the pace like cars in both lanes going 15 mph. Never passing, never making room. You imagine my outrage is an isolated incident and you, the right to slow my roll. Adversaries illustrated in India ink —black and white our only…
-
Mr. Market’s Magic Emporium
•
1 min read
MR. MARKET’S MAGIC EMPORIUM Welcome to Mr. Market’s Magic Emporium! Come learn how unwatched capitalists always do the right thing and his invisible hands turn your selfishness into personal wealth! At Mr. Market’s Magic Emporium, life is good! If you can afford armed guards and fund patrolled private schools, never mind the self-appointed guards at…
-
I didn’t make you punch me
•
2 min read
I didn’t provoke your violence by advocating tolerance. I DIDN’T MAKE YOU PUNCH ME We both said things. We can agree on that. I want to say We both said things we regret but I’m not sure you do. I feel the regret, at least. Not only for what I said but the rage ripping…
-
Even Scarier Words
•
2 min read
EVEN SCARIER WORDS The day the president insulted himself I was 8. I didn’t know anything about him except that he sold weapons to bad people and seemed OK with lying about it. But I’ve always wondered how he could say such terrible things about himself. That his being there speaking would terrify a person.…