"'You have imprisoned our democracy': Inside Republicans' domination of Tennessee"
—The Guardian, April 5, 2024
Despite what y'all were taught in school,
Democracy is not that cool;
We merely use it as a tool
To institute one-party rule.
Folks come to Nashville, see our sights,
While up the hill we're locked in fights*
With Tennesseans claiming rights
They don't deserve now, by our lights.
Theocracy's the goal we've set,
And though we haven't reached it yet
The hour is coming, never fret.
Can't happen here? You wanna bet?
*The state capitol sits four blocks up from Lower Broadway, Nashville's busy tourist district.
Steven Kent is the poetic alter ego of writer, musician, and resident of Nashville, Tennessee Kent Burnside. His work appears in 251, Asses of Parnassus, Journal of Formal Poetry, Light, Lighten Up Online, New Verse News, Philosophy Now, Pulsebeat Poetry Journal, and Snakeskin. His collection I Tried (And Other Poems, Too) was published in 2023 by Kelsay Books.