The country’s gone from strange to eerie. We
Watch candidates, confronted by the press,
Harried, but not about their policies—
Instead they’re stressed beyond all sane duress!
“You know a guy who knew a guy who cursed
In college once!” “Your middle name’s Hussein!”
“How come no flag pin graces your lapel?”
“You’ve never dodged a bullet!” How germane
Are such stupidities? We want to know
How to reclaim our battered dignity?
How churn war to peace, heal the myriad woes
Spawned by our shattered grim economy?
For pity’s sake, stuff politic patois—
Shut your pie-holes! Stop the peevish gotchas!
(4/19/08)