If you’re like me, you know a traitor when you see one
you know democracies are representative of peoples
not of monies — a picture tells the story, we see them

If you’re like me, you understand why traitors
to the people planet beauty and intelligence,
why they want to ban photographers, news

If you’re like me, you were fooled once, twice even
with the world declining as with glaciers retreating
as with meaningless and senseless war-making

If you’re like me, you won’t be fooled again, no
giving in to self-doubt, gaslit, knowing by now
the intelligence as a worker, an American

is dependent on the valuing of that intelligence
so when traitors sit laughing while no one else
laughs, photo tells the story: switched allegiance

I know they hold no value for people like me
meaning, for them, means money, makes them
traitors to democracy, not educators of workers

If you’re like me, evaluating, some of things
to see, so many others but intelligence means
diligence consistent constant vigilence.

[references: Mike Rose, The Mind at Work: Valuing the Intelligence of the American Worker   The Who / Pete Townshend, “Won’t Get Fooled Again”]