The Win

When you reach out for the prize,
please be sure you recognize
that chaos can adopt the guise
of a much-wished-for surprise.
Bad things can come in lovely trappings,
so when you remove the wrappings,
what you might find wrapped inside
is something they have had to hide
lest you know the ugly truth.
A close-lipped smile can hide the tooth
that bites the hand that votes for it.
How can we once again permit
such evil to come into power?
This time we cannot hide or cower.
Brave men and women must stir their bones—
leave their screens, forsake their phones,
to come back to reality.
See how much worse the world could be.
Environment an oozing shambles
while big business wrecks and gambles.
Brother turned against his brother,
all the world blaming the other.
Misogyny, racism and
a lack of respect for the land—
what will these concepts lead us to?
Democracy is now a zoo.
Polluted rivers, polluted skies,
will prove the truth some recognize.
In forgetting our forefathers’ goals,
we’ve let big business buy our souls.
Lately foolish, please now be wise.
Please, countrymen, open your eyes.
Your children sicken, your grandchild cries.
Please save his country before it dies.
It is time to recognize
these words do not hyperbolize.
Now is the time to change and wake up.
Our country’s factions need to make up!

The prompt today was recognize.