The Intruder at the Door

Published October 6, 2026

I heard rumors of his coming,

Tales of the harm he has done in our town already.

I wrote words to support my community,

Silently wishing these things weren’t actually happening.

But corruption has come knocking, and

I cannot ignore the intruder at the door.

I close the curtains, yet he stares at me through the crack.

I try to watch TV, but his ads are sharp with their attack.

I scroll through my phone seeking distraction

But all I see is the calamity of our reality, and I feel eerily numb.

This is a side effect of corruption that I must treat.

I cannot ignore the intruder at the door.

I sneak out the back door, get in my car,

But he beats me to the punch.

Driving down the street, I see his patriot front.

In my neighborhood? How is this happening?

Corruption frightens me, but

I cannot ignore the intruder at the door.

What will he do next?

Where will I find him again?

Will he find me ready, or unprepared?

Will he take up a permanent residency?

How much more corruption can my deadbolt take?

I cannot ignore the intruder at the door.

Since this remains our reality,

There is no way to conclude this stream of anxieties.

Until he leaves, I must remain ready to fight.

I can’t wait to unclench my fist and return to democracy.

I must keep whispering to myself, “corruption will not win on my watch.

So no, I will not ignore the intruder at the door.