Inauguration Day, What It Isn't

Pixabay Image

It’s coming. We check off
the dates on the calendar.
Mark that special day with
a red circle and cross it through
when it happens. When all
the anxious waiting is over
and the mind snaps shut. The 
terror built slowly with the
hope it’d just fucking go
away – but it never did.
Because it’s up here! Where
it started. The fear. The anxious
stomach and pulsing stress as the
heart beats faster – like your
strap just broke on the rollercoaster
and you think you’re heading
straight for the Hot Dog stand
90 feet below.
Five more days, then three,
then trips to the bathroom
increase in number. The stays
longer, the relief far less, as
the moment approaches and there’s
no number of prayers, wishful
thoughts or candles lit at 3 am
that will change its trajectory.
It’s coming and then what?
Then we watch it passing.
The ugly shape of its back.
The misshapen head that
held no great importance,
just a little grift that we fell
for. 
It’s coming. That we invited it
in doesn’t make it any better,
does it?