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The room is full of empty chairs.
The gods above break down, distraught.
We offer them our thoughts and prayers.

Later that week, the Law declares
In bullet-points we’ve learned a lot.
The room is full of empty chairs

Persuaded by these solemn airs—
And those survivors? They are not.
We offer them our thoughts and prayers

While an explosive skeptic shares
Links proving this a deep state plot.
The room is full of empty chairs.

“We’ve still got time if someone cares
To leave us with a final thought . . .”
“We offer them our thoughts and prayers,”

Some suit recites as he prepares
To squeeze off one last parting shot.
The room is full of empty chairs.
We offer them our thoughts and prayers.

—Stephen Kampa

Photo by SBT4NOW via Creative Commons. Image cropped.