Like            all republics
it can’t                 be kept
its great              flowers
shriveling         beneath
the heated mob        do-
ing the dictator’s deeds

Like  all           republics
it         survives   under-
ground      its insurgent
network  of roots   kept
safe by   secrecy-sworn
soil awaiting liberating
rains      time to  rise up

making again   my gar-
den bed  safe  (enough)
for    floral   democracy
free   from    the weeds
of     discord    and fake
fertilizers        The hose
tap at last  is turned off