Writers gathered Monday night as usual for the monthly meet-up for reminiscence writers I host, First Monday, First Person. Rich shared this ripped-from-the-headlines poem, a cri de coeur for our country and the brave people of Minneapolis. Anyone alive in the U.S. in the 1960s will recognize how “history doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes.”

By Richard Senn

There’s something happening here

And it’s not good I fear

There’s millions of people in the street

Everyone is up on their feet

Protesting what is going on

Singing a freedom song

Tired of bullies and clowns

Ready to take them down

They are killing people for no reason

ICE thinks it’s a citizen hunting season

Fascism is rampant here

But for me democracy is still dear

To get it we must fight

For what is just and what is right

Freedom in America is dear

I hope to you that is still clear

Never submit to a fascist state

Because once again, America can be great

©2026 Richard Senn

Rich is retired from working for over 25 years in the biotechnology industry. He started spending more time on his writing this year with a particular emphasis on creative nonfiction.