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FBI searches Washington's posts device's at their home

they kicked in the door-- with smiles--
and paperwork --
said it -- was all legal --
because ink -- is dangerous now --
that truth -- carries a concealed weapon --

they unplugged -- the machines --
like pulling -- life support --
from a dying idea
hauled off laptops -- phones -- hard drives--
thumb sticks -- full of memory and blood
because -- even electricity --
is -- suspect these days --

somewhere a reporter -- was still typing --
when -- the boots came down the hallway --
and -- the Constitution --
got folded -- into a pocket --
like --  a parking ticket --
nobody planed -- to pay --

freedom of -- speech—
bagged and -- tagged --
freedom of the -- press—
mirrored and -- copied --
freedom of assembly—
peppered eye's and -- sprayed --
due process—
waiting on hold
religion—
still welcomed -- if it kneels --
and doesn’t look anyone important -- in the eye --

they say that --anyone can come here--
pray-- how they want--
dream -- how they want --
work how -- they want --
but write -- the wrong sentence --
or stand -- in the wrong crowd --
or hold the -- wrong sign --
and you become a -- case number --
with a barcode -- future --
and a stainless-steel -- bed --

I’ve seen America drunk ---  at 3 a.m --
bleeding on its on my -- own sidewalk --
still swearing he was undefeated --  
like his last election -- 
Joseph Biden --
still singing the national anthem through -- broken teeth --
while the landlord --  changes the locks --
and the police inventory your --  thoughts --

and that blond women -- from Tampa --  the D.O.J --
with perfect posture and her -- dead eyes --
recite statutes -- like bedtime stories --
about why your rights -- were never really yours --
just rented -- out --
until --  further notice --

I am overwhelmed --  again --
by the smell of ink and -- fear--
by the hum of seized --  hard drives --
stacked like trophies --  in evidence rooms --
by the sound --  of shredders chewing history --
by judges who speak in -- rubber stamps --
and presidents -- who collect lost powers,
like souvenir --  shot glasses --

this is a country built -- on shouting --
now whispering -- through wiretaps --
this is a nation -- born from rebellion --
now allergic to -- dissent --

and somewhere a journalist --  stands barefoot --
on a cold --  floor --
watching agents -- carry out his life --
in -- cardboard boxes --
holding a warrant --  like a bad poem --
wondering --  when the word freedom --
started meaning --

12th gradefree verse

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