John Cornyn—Don’t be afraid (a protest poem for Texas)

Herman Sutter

July 5, 2026

Stand up for Texas, not for Trump

Do not bow before that aging stump

Of appetite anger and selfishness

Instead call Texans to be their best

To love and share with grace and kindness

To bless each other, family and friend, stranger and homeless

And do not be afraid of tyrants or would-be kings

You are a Texan—why be afraid of anything

Except roaches as big as Cadillacs

And certain spiders and (of course) certain snakes

And jellyfish (but I digress)

Stand up, John Cornyn to your emperor’s emptiness

Only Yes-men, get singled out for praise

Yet, already he’s numbering their days

You know better than any, this is true

And so, Mr. Cornyn, I ask: What will you do? 

Stand up John Cornyn –You were not made for this

Texans do not bow to lies or boots to kiss

Stand up, John Cornyn for Texas and truth

Don’t let a thief ignore our laws and corrupt our youth

Stand up for the weak, stand up for the oppressed,

The rich and the poor, the hero and the homeless

Stand up, John Cornyn, make Texans proud

Stand up to Trump, clear and loud

Courage and love, not envy and hate,

Are the strengths real Texans bring

Stand up, John Cornyn, stand up to Trump

And make America truly great (again).

Herman Sutter (award-winning poet/playwright/essayist) is a school librarian and the author of two chapbooks: Stations (Wiseblood Books) and The World Before Grace (Wings Press), as well as “The Sorrowful Mystery of Racism,” St. Anthony Messenger. His work appears in: The Perch, The Ekphrastic Review, The Langdon Review, Touchstone, The Merton Journal, as well as: Texas Poetry Calendar (2021) & By the Light of a Neon Moon (Madville Press, 2019). His unpublished A Theology of Need was long-listed for the Sexton prize.