G20: In Which Another Side's Story Is Considered

(Click here to view the original photo by Paul Laroquod

Behind the shields and masks, there still were folk
Who did not drool with eagerness to ply
That riot gear, who sought not to provoke
Nor terrorize the people who did eye
That gathering with distrust, ire or fear,
And exercised their right to say so when
G20 came to town. It's been a year
That's taught us all to rethink what has been
A default notion: our leaders are right
And those who might oppose them, simply mobs,
Unruly, dangerous, and on the fight.
Some of them are just real, working-class slobs
Whose job today put them in a phalanx
Arrayed against democracy. No thanks.

BONUS SONNET: The Night Of The Pug

The pug that will be Kevin's lives quite far

From Cheyenne town; to see him took a trip

That we were glad to make in Kevin's car,

But Michael took his own 'cause he's too hip

To wait around to watch us old folks coo.

'Twas fine until we made the journey back,

And Michael slid right off the road and through

A fence. Looked like a crash! My heart attack!

Call 911! A deputy arrived,

With wisecracks in his police car, and coached

My boys through their first tire change, contrived

To make it all quite funny. Then he broached

The subject, pouring on the drawling flatt'ry,

Of just how dead was our poor Kevin's batt'ry.

This Lump In My Throat Won't Go Away Anytime Soon

The boys in blue don't stay home on snow days,

Don't get to choose who they help out or why,

No matter attitude, abuse or praise,

The job is clear: whatever goes awry

Must be redressed, at risk of life or limb

If needed. Accident, attack or fire,

Domestic fight, escape, or murder grim,

The boys in blue must suck it up. Admire

Or hate them as you will, you'll still get help --

Or if you're doing harm, they'll kick your ass,

While back at home, their kids and puppies yelp

And wives must give that dinnertime a pass.

So when some bastard shoots a working cop

It's right that civ'lization's at a stop.