Written by Joe Coy
there’s a rumbling roiling discontent
a murmuration in the distance
the repeated erosion and rollback of rights has
helped the voiceless find their voices
there’s a rumbling roiling discontent
one step is a movement that starts a movement
so is a raised fist
a shove from a shield
a bloodied lip
a handcuffed kid
the bang of a gavel
the stroke of a pen
there’s a rumbling roiling discontent
in homes
in streets
where people meet
cautiously
carefully
friend? informant? we shall see
when will we see that those humans aren’t better
these humans aren’t lesser?
we’re the same except for systems that
someone invented and
told us have always existed and
are for the best and
we believed them with full conviction
because you don’t question when you’re children
but we’re not children anymore
we’re growing day by day
there’s a rumbling roiling discontent
the powerful are starting to learn our power
we’ve read this history before as
titans fall at the hands of true goddesses and
gods and those who think they’re in control
the few
the arrogant
the untouchable
the cruel
are going to learn that voices and bodies are stronger than
coins and paper and pens and paper and
paper-thin threats masking fear and insecurity
laws require buy-in and
thanks to them we’re broke and tapped out but
we’re not broken and if you’re tired you can tap me in
i’ll take your place
so will she they he we
we are legion and united we stand
they may not see us yet from way up there but
we know they feel it
there’s a rumbling roiling discontent
and we’re growing day by day
RAGE AGAINST THE REGIME | Photography by Dave Madeloni
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Joe Coy (he/him) has always been fascinated by how a few words and a few lines can say so much. His poems have been accepted for publication in Altar Literary Journal, Eternal Haunted Summer, and Call Me [Brackets]. In his spare time, Joe enjoys being in nature, spending time with his wife and two kids, cooking, yoga, and meditation.