There’s our president with a Bible in his hand
His right arm lifted high
In front of a church he doesn’t go to for prayer.
Standing there looking somber
As the camera shutters click.
And memorialize the moment when
A president held a press conference
Flanked by the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Officer,
A Press Secretary who should have known better than to schedule this,
And an Attorney General who ordered the police to clear protesters off the sidewalks and street
So the president could walk down the street to stand with a Bible in his hand.
Insulting anyone who has ever worshipped in that church
Insulting the religious and pious,
Who follow the words of Jesus,
Mocking us all.
There’s our president with his wife.
Today they motorcade across town
To pretend they are in solidarity with Catholics.
No need to have the police bully away a crowd,
Just a need to take a photograph,
To show his faithful a religious pose,
Rather than his usual tweet storm.
Standing somber with his wife,
As the cameras memorialize another day without compassion,
Another day without empathy,
Another day in the march towards a soul-less America.
Where is our president when he is needed most?
Where is our president when the victim isn’t white?
Where is our president when the streets are filled with throngs who have no other way to be heard?
Where is our president when zealots use the moment to cause chaos?
Where is our president when the people of America need to heal?
Where is our president when the people of America need to look for ways to become a nation united instead of divided?
Where is our president when we need him?
He stands in front of churches that didn’t invite him.
He stands for the cameras.
He stands and clergy cringe at the use of their building as backdrops for his campaign photo.
Why can’t he show up for the conversation?
Why can’t he show up for the condolences?
Why can’t he show up and do what we expect and need a leader to do?
