Armistice Day, 2024

 

"At their inauguration, public leaders
must swear to uphold unwritten law and weep
to atone for their presumption to hold office" 
                                                        -- Heaney

 Mister,

Finally, you have frayed every
length of human oath sworn
out by your own vain terms.

These are indeed late days
that drag your lame rule
into that frugal republic

where, with curdled privilege
and pockets bereft, you must
wander through a purpled world

of ducks that only dip, poppies
tramped beneath your knees and
oranges beyond tongues or fingertips.

So toddle on to pasture, inured
of scent sweet thyme and colocynth,
bitter gourds won't salt your lips.

Thunderstorms won't swaddle you, but
hale unceasing rain of last little beats to
peen upon your own pharaonic heart.

Signed
even this will change

p.s. How dare you betray poetry