28.07.2016 — 21:32–22:45 — Berlin

Dear Mr. President Obama,
those were some mighty fine words. 
Inspiring and uplifting —

Dear Mr. President Obama,
I admire you, and I wanted to believe you today,
because I have believed in your judgment for a long time now —

Dear Mr. President Obama, 
I understand the difficulties you faced entering the Oval Office.
Though I was once frustrated,
I have come to accept the compromises you have made over the years.
Your fortitude has won us plenty
has changed much
has astounded many;
we all recognize the toll it takes.

Dear Mr. President Obama,
it cannot rightfully be said that you have set us back,
failed us,
skated by,
given up.
The lies spewed from the faces of ignorant media vermin
are vindictive curses of unfounded hatred.

Dear Mr. President Obama, 
The stakes are high,
and you have proven you do not have anything left but hope. 
Burnt out and biting your nails like the rest of us sane folk.
We are hoping too,
hoping not to see the empire collapse.
We know, 
just like you,
that there is no time for such a thing.

Dear Mr. President Obama,
Perhaps this knowledge prevents me from believing you.

Dear Mr. President Obama,
Corruption festers in our midst. 
Overwhelming proof is scattered across the globe.
How can I trust your war room champion?
How can I have faith in your even-headed veteran?

Dear Mr. President Obama,
What is the extent of your reach? 
Did you see this coming?
Were you clued in to the heist 
or did you choose to remain ignorant? 
If you knew, 
do you also know how far the web extends?

Dear Mr. President Obama, 
I am filled with doubt. 
The water rises,
and we must choose between sociopath and lunatic.
The divide expands,
and it is difficult to discern the difference.
We are dying in the streets from poverty,
hatred,
racism,
neglect.
Our screams of protest are as loud as they have ever been. 
What reasons are there to believe in any of you anymore?

Dear Mr. Obama, 
Does any leader speak with genuine honesty?
Is there a single person left in your midst who has not smeared shit in the face of the American people, grinning all the while? 
These questions are a constant reminder of my ignorance. 
These leaks are a constant reminder of my ignorance.
It seems the beams of this machine are woven in infinite complexity.

Dear Barack, 
Even at a time like this,
these questions prevent me
(Most of All)
from believing I have a say. 
These short peaks behind the curtain
reveal the shifting mechanisms of “Democracy”
as immune to my influence.
Ultimately,
we hope for different things. 
Your audacity permits grand dreams.
My uncertainty clutches first for survival.