Limerick

With arrogant blindness, as brutes see, 
Trump chose Anthony Scaramucci
To speak to the press, 
But he won't talk unless 
We all call the Donald Il Duce. 

Listen

Talk to me you said, but I am talking

In my heart's limited vocabulary 

Not merely words but whole sentences 

Dense and awkward reams of poetry 

Fall to dust when you catch my eye 

I tell you with my catching breath 

During our brief concurrences 

That warm so much more than skin 

I speak to you often as I can, never aloud 

For I fear my words might deafen you 

You might stop your ears 

Graduation

It happens to every nation. 

The promise of youth fades 

And you must grow up and support yourself 

Because you can't depend forever 

On everyone saying how special you are. 

Your parents gave you expensive gifts 

And sent you off to school yourself

And carry on their good name; 

You squandered your inheritance

On shiny baubles and rich meals, 

Never respecting your debts. 

You hired yourself a cheerleader 

To speak on your behalf; 

Tall with an impressive jaw. 

He glitters when he walks 

And when he sits upon his throne and tweets, 

But it takes a while for you to realize 

He's a few semesters past his prime, 

He was home-schooled in debate, 

He gets checks from exotic zip codes, 

And his quiet friends write all the lines 

In the homework he does and charges you for 

(Your hard-earned money, siphoned out 

To pay the bill that is always larger than you thought). 

He may console you, and tell you how 

You were always the big man on the continent, 

Strutter of the world's stage, 

But the tales he tells are increasingly silly 

And the harder he blows, the less people listen. 

The more you see this huckster for who he is, 

The more you wish friends would help.

But your friendships are all shallow,

You only helped them face bullies when it was expedient, 

And your influence dried up 

After one too many venal wars. 

No one wants to visit you now 

Except to take advantage. 

It happens to every nation; 

You're no different. 

To throw this shyster out on his ear 

Takes disciplined democracy 

And very great resistance. 

Inauguration

I mourn the lack of a Paul Revere 

but I have no confidence people would listen 

if he didn't tweet (much less, shout) 

about the dangers stalking black churches, 

mosques in Texas, Standing Rock, 

assault in an office in Greenwich, 

and ruling out words at Liberty's feet. 

We left our welfare to talking heads - 

some sparkling as they eye the camera, 

others primly quoting scripture

(all well-paid, regardless), 

most avoiding the eyes of victors 

who warmly congratulate one another 

saying, welcome now, the end of respect 

and a beginning to the rule of fear. 

Fear is in the mind. If risk 

is not worth the reward, 

why, the Experiment is truly over. 

Let us live out our nation's creed. 

Let this week be your Inauguration.