What Do You Have To Lose Poem by James B. Earley

Author's note:
The poem, 'What Do You Have To Lose' was composed in angered response to Donald Trump's contemptuous query to the Black voter during Election cycle 2016. Subsequently, as I witness that 'demented ' mindset's warped destruction of social constructs long held as near and dear to my personal well-being, I see a calamitous parallel visited also upon even The President's most 'ardent' base of Conservative Christian support. 'What do we collectively have to lose' is the critical question urgently confronting.......our embattled......Nation.


Often watched you at the podium
....Noted your coziness...with the lie
Undisclosed 'secrets'...your mantra
...I'm left...to ponder...the reasons...why

In occasional...questions... posed I find
...My intellect...sometimes...abused
As is...your insidious insulting query
...'WHAT....DO...YOU...HAVE...TO...LOSE'

Clearly...my future hopes...and dreams
.....Every single aspect seems
Embroiled...in lies and....bigotry...
Thus...what your question...means...to me

Life's mere freedom here is threatened
Health-care once enjoyed now chaotic
Half the Nation 'hates' my presence
...Yet....views themselves patriotic

Constitutional rulings jeopardized...
Supreme Court...supreme alone in name
...Decisions...of its past......imperiled...
At mercy now...of sheer...disdain

My children's...children...in the balance
....Their future menaced by such views
Within...this....your....wretched question
...'WHAT-DO-YOU-HAVE-TO-LOSE'

Indeed...my future hopes...and dreams
.....Every single aspect seems
Embroiled...in lies and....bigotry...
'Tis...what your question...means...to me