2024 New Year

The fall of the Soviet Union 

Lifted the dread of nuclear war. 

Mankind seemed freed from that horrible

Ever-present existential threat. 

Now three decades later we all face

New terrifying threats unforeseen 

And unimaginable before. 

If God is a cat, is man his mouse? 

Thirty years ago, could you dream up

A divisive huckster president 

Supported by a third of voters 

Willfully ignorant, complicit? 

As our very democracy is  

At risk, we also face the rise of 

Unregulated, unrestricted  

Artificial Intelligence. 

Between high tech rich whiz kids 

And a third of voters stuck in 

An alternate universe 

Where facts and logic languish 

2024 will be 

A pivotal, frightening, 

Historic year to survive.