The Coming Debate (Reckoning)   They’ll say: None of this is our fault — you started it, and what you did was worse. They’ll say: You corrupted the children with your art and your music and your bad books. They’ll say: You would have done it to us if you could, but you didn’t have the guts, did you. They’ll say: So who are you to tell us what we should have done — who the hell could have known? They’ll say: This is God’s punishment for everything you’ve done and what you want to do. They’ll say: You never should have given us the finger when we told you what we’d do. They’ll say: These are desperate times, and desperate times call for extraordinary measures. They’ll say: Without us, the whole country would have fallen to pieces by now.                             What will we say?     © Michael Fleming Brattleboro, Vermont October 2025