When one's weapon to advocate for social change is words, there's not a lot left to say on the day of the most important election of our lifetimes.
Voting is what matters now, not words.
However, my emotions are still running high and so for the second time in two major elections, I decided to write a poem to quiet my own internal fires but to also hopefully inspire a few of you out there who haven't yet voted to exercise your rights.
The difference between now and the last time I wrote a poem the day of the the 2022 election for Governor, is that I've met a lot of REAL poets at our monthly poetry night in Madison.
I realized quickly that although I still love to write poetry, I haven't refined that skill nearly as much as my friend Richard Vargas, who is our taproom's poetry night host.
So on Sunday I asked him to write a poem entitled "Good morning, America," and I told him I would do the same and would publish them both on Minocqua Brewing Company's mailing list.
He sent his first poem to me that very same night, and the title was "The Revolution will be Internetted," and while it was quite beautiful, it was also dark as hell.
"Richard, the goal here is to inspire people to vote, not to make them throw up their hands in despair."
"Ok Kirk, back to the drawing board."
So Richard sent me another poem last night, and I sent him a draft of my poem, in which I changed the title to "Good morning, Wisconsin," because what came out of my brain was simply too Wisconsin-centric for the previous title.
It was an inadvertent bait and switch--sorry about that Richard.
Luckily for him, however--since America comes before Wisconsin in terms of global importance (and because the sublime should be read before the mediocre), his poem will come first.
Thanks for answering the call, Minocqua Brewing Company Poet Laureate Vargas*. I love your words.
Good morning, America
no, the last four years
was not one endless
nightmare from Invasion
of the Body Snatchers
or a Stephen King novel
complete with a scary clown
terrorizing the locals
we lived it
watched the nightly news
shook our heads in disbelief
as handpicked judges
made favorable rulings
and kissed the hand that
appointed them to their
cushy jobs
listened as women
were treated like
secondhand citizens
their uteruses ruled
property of the state
no exceptions
gasped at the sight of
cardboard boxes stuffed
with classified documents
piled high in closets
and bathrooms and
left to wonder
what secrets were
sold to the highest
bidder
heard the threats of sentencing
to the gulags or worse
made against fellow citizens
investigating and gathering
evidence of the many crimes
now considered “presidential duties”
then heard again as the mob
that stormed the peaceful
transfer of power
broke windows
beat cops
and smeared their shit
on the walls
were told a pardon
was in order
we were disgusted
as spineless political
allies blocked bills
and willingly became
mouthpieces of madness
until they turned on each other
like hyenas circling
a wounded elephant
but today we woke up
today we smelled
the coffee
today we stepped outside
armed, not with a glock,
but a ballot
together, taking aim
pulling the trigger
watching our votes
fall like a heavy rain
on a drought-stricken land
Good morning, America
how have you been?
we are your native sons
and daughters
bruised black and blue
but still standing
anticipating many
better tomorrows
and that’s what being great
is really all about
And now, here's what I cam up with yesterday:
Good Morning, Wisconsin
Remember that morning 8 years ago,
When you woke up to the news that Trump won?
Your stomach began to turn in knots
And your mind became totally numb.
Remember those mornings in March twenty/twenty
When each state began to shut down?
We listened to Cuomo instead of our chief--
only one of them was mentally sound.
Remember that morning on November 3rd
When Biden’s campaign found success?
But Trump refused to concede the race
We were warned of this in Washington’s farewell address.
Remember that morning on 14 December,
When Trump sued our state to delay?
The 4/3 decision was just barely enough
To keep a civil war at bay.
Remember that morning on January 6th,
After weeks and weeks of Trump’s lies?
His cult beat up our Capitol police
Proud Boys with red hats their disguise
Remember that morning on June ‘twenty-two,
When Alito and Dobbs took down Roe?
Three of those justices were jammed through by Trump
Finessed by McConnell just so.
Remember that morning on Nov 7th
When Evers was elected our Gov?
This, the first step that we needed to take
To shore up the state that we love.
Remember that morning on April 5th,
When we won the court majority?
Step two was achieved to make damn sure
Trump couldn't fuck with our electoral authority
All those mornings we must remember
Before going to vote today
All the pain we’ve endured from Trump’s projections
Channeled now to keep him away.
All those mornings we knocked on doors
For all those victories achieved
Were all for today when we’ll beat him again
And his MAGA cult of the aggrieved.
Good Morning, Wisconsin, it’s November 5th
Our flag flies high in the mist
It’s time we march, the silent majority,
And turn the page on his grift.
Good Morning, Wisconsin, it’s time to vote
For a woman of color with fists pumping
We’ll make history and save Democracy too
It's been a long time coming.
See you at the polls, Wisconsin!
Kirk Bangstad
Owner, Minocqua Brewing Company
Founder, Minocqua Brewing Company Super PAC
*Bio: Richard Vargas earned his B.A. at Cal State University, Long Beach, where he studied under Gerald Locklin, and Richard Lee. He edited/published five issues of The Tequila Review, 1978-1980, and twelve issues of The Mas Tequila Review from 2010-2015. Vargas received his MFA in Creative Writing from the University of New Mexico, 2010, where he workshopped his poems with Joy Harjo. He was recipient of the 2011 Taos Summer Writers’ Conference Hispanic Writer Award. He was on the faculties of the 2012 10th National Latino Writers Conference and the 2015 Taos Summer Writers’ Conference. Published collections: McLife, 2005; American Jesus, 2007; Guernica, revisited, 2014; How A Civilization Begins, 2022, and leaving a tip at the Blue Moon Motel, 2023. A sixth book, The Screw City Poems, is scheduled for release by Roadside Press, July 2025. He currently is host of a monthly poetry open mic in Madison (Poetry on Tap, Minocqua Brewing Company: “drink beer and don’t be racist.”) He resides in Wisconsin, near the lake where Otis Redding’s plane crashed.