Free Will

a poem by Joshua Coffman

"Protect the children!" 

Salty waves roared loudly back. 

Bearded men swore epithets into the wind. 

"Protect the children!"

Dark vomited its perfume,

God's just anger raining down on those who sinned.

"Throw out the tackle!"

Desperate authority penned.

But they were not on the sea or in a boat.

"Throw out the tackle!"

They felt no heroism.

Propaganda fed their soul, lines tyrants wrote.

"Jump into the sea!"

What?! The novel turned abrupt.

Plunging men into confused and angry state.

"Jump into the sea!"

Surely the author amused.

His words divorced from thought, only feeling hate.

"Drown! ye bastard minks!"

The men look'd round their dark envire.

Then looked at eachother, inarticulate.

"Drown! ye bastard minks!"

The paper showed grease-stains now

Sweaty palms. The angry man throwing a fit.