we are democracy—unruly, unfinished, unrelenting
people of rebellious joy taking to the streets
underground resilience resisting complaisance
the pleasure of activism organizing into simple hope

we are democracy,
people of principles taking on principalities
witnessing the worth of those called unworthy
justice just now gaining ground
integrity of interdependent existence extending
living democracy in heads hands hearts

we know that democracy can die, ossify
brittle byproducts of bygone idealists
plotting politicians pirating votes
corporations cannibalizing our care for the world
look: it can wither, distend, come to an end

democracy, today we will love you alive
make you ours, make you thrive
and vote as though our hope is on the line