2016 Poem by B. V. Dahlen

I'm so glad that it's gone
And welcome the new year
With tomorrow's dawn
The old year brought
Too many negative vibes
And that last election
Changed so many lives
It caused racial tension
And made people doubt
Just what our connections
Were really about
It questioned our freedom
To worship or pray
Where only the right faith
Allows you to stay
It made being female
A risky proposal
Where our bodies themselves
Were for others disposal
It added new sparks
To the racism tension
And our civil rights gains
Seem to hang in suspension
And friendships we'd made
Across the world o'er
Were soon turning to enemies
Here at our door
With people who proved
That they care for us Nyet
Our friends in high places
Are still more of a threat.
On this eve of a New Year,
I fervently pray
I can predict more promise
For my country today
But my heart remains heavy
And I tremble with fear
That things will just get worse
In the oncoming year.