Red and Blue

Two rats sitting in a glass box, speaking back and forth
They have much to say—a parade of their nature
Pacing the transparent floor, trading arguments endlessly

“My way is true, moral, and whole!” one squeaks to the other

“My way is whole, moral, and true!” the other chirps back

Day and night, the rats squeal their shrill cries
Tirelessly pleading their ‘combating’ views
As the hopeful eyes of onlooking figures slip closed
And yawns power through their dry mouths

Exhausting and fruitless
To sit and stare at this charade of empty ambition
Testing the divisive nature of competition 
Rivalry all for the sake of red and blue banners

The rats wander around nooks of the cage
Infinitely contesting the remarks of the other
Consumed in convincing—listening neglected
An experiment-gone-wrong

Original poem by Christian Jay Ashliman, written in the Spring of 2019.

Feature photo by Lisa Keffer on Unsplash