I see that democracy is still awake

Puttering about

Coffee in hand

Eyes full of crust

 

The neighbors are suspicious

Watching it shuffle out the door

Grabbing a paper

It will never read

 

It used to make appearances

Glamorous and titillating

Now the kids are gone

And the make-up is off

 

And no one can remember

What it plans to do

As retirement age

Approaches

 

Maybe it will head

To a far off land

Take up residence

And paint

 

A future no one can see

Through the haze

And combustion

Of today’s whims