Wreck of the American Congress

I borrowed some poetic structure and phrasing from our Canadian neighor, Gordon Lightfoot. His classic song, “Wreck of the Edmund Gerald” was a masterpiece of ballad composition. Because we, who live south of the border, suffered a destructive insurrection on Januar 6, 2021:

The legend lives on from the Pilgrims on down,

of the nation they call America.

The nation, it is known, goes on and on,

though the riots of Jan6 turned looney.

With a flag of stars and stripes, fifty states still intact,

a Constitution and Congress acting boldly,

our nation was no bone to be chewed

by a mob of loud boys, oath breakers and riotous boys

Our nation is the pride of the American people,

holding steady from election to election.

As the world nations go, we are stronger than most,

with a Constitution and Congress well seasoned.

Concluding some terms with Electoral returns,

when the Congress was meeting in session,

in the middle of the day when the Congress bell rang,

could it be the insurrection they were hearing?

The shouts in the halls made a tattle tale sound

and some loud boys broke into the session.

When counting time came, the vice president said,

Electors, it’s too rough to count ‘em.

The Speaker called in they had attackers coming in

and the Congress and crew were in peril

And later that day when law and order went outa sight

came the January 6th insurrection.

Does anyone know where the Rule of Law goes

when rioters ran our Congress into hiding?

The searchers all say we’d have saved it that day

if the guards had not been beaten and smattered.

They might have fell down or they might have been tazed

when our ship of state was in peril.

Now all that remains is our congress trying to sail ‘er.

America rolls on, ship of state still in peril, still sailin’

in the cities and states of our nation.

Our states still united; our anthem we sing

in the folds of American history.

In a crusty ole ship of state we hang on

in our Constitutional procedures.

The Liberty bell rang and it rang fifty times,

for each state in historic nation.

Our rule of law lives on in the chambers of Congressional order.

Our nation, we recall, ain’t insurrected; that’s all.

Liberty and Justice for all, and Congress won’t take a fall!

*Glass half-Full*