by Leslie Hidley

The tyrant walks on others backs
It is the road he treads
He abrogates their rights and laws
He maims and he beheads.
The tyrant thinks he’s other than
Someone like you or me
He’s just an ordinary man
Or woman who can’t see
That each life is precious
The Lord made every one
He loves whatever life he makes
Each one’s uniquely done.
The tyrant—and the rest of us—
Will have to answer for
What we’d repeat a thousand times
Or we’d do nevermore.

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Recognized as an Honorable Mention in FoFG’s 2026 Poetry Contest