Ugly American

The title, rightfully, invokes thoughts
of inspiring thugs to storm the capital,
and there is a flashback, but it opens
with pointing a finger at a beleaguered ally,
while telling him he doesn’t have the cards.
Marco not standing up for people dying for freedom - 
the guest played by Matthew McConaughey, 
in military attire, with the only stones in the room.
Lindsay in his scene on the White House lawn,
we’re thinking Harvey Fierstein, saying he’s never been prouder,
 
These are all ugly but written in as understandable.
There is an obvious, serious personality disorder,
to go with a middle-school-bully mentality.
He truly doesn’t know any better,
and so, we’re thinking Alec Baldwin.
Lindsey has no choice either, whatever 
they have on him is a deal breaker.
And Marco thinks he could assume power. 
We’re trying to get Al Pacino to take the part.
 
The lead is me, the aggregate me,
the star of the production, the everyman,
who told himself he’d sit, keep his mouth shut,
avoid watching the news and talking
with anyone about anything of any pertinence.
The script has me wanting to leave before the violence,
as though being abroad would make me a better American.
The theme - ugly is an art best cultivated at home,
makes the part perfect for Richard Gere,
but he has already left for Spain.

 


 

Executive Order

With the price of a loaf of bread and bacon,
gas just went up again,
he may be forced to tariff something.
 
If things don’t change and assuming he’s immune,
when everything crashes, your 401 (k),
the stock market, the state of the union will be
 
that he is tearing it down, starting over new,
liquidating it for you,
and of course, our faith and the flag.
 
The Lord said move out of New York,
everyone will soon follow, Times Square desolate,
like towns now in the Ukraine and Gaza.
 
Jessie mentioned it first, comparing him 
to Navalny, Lincoln, Elvis, Nelson Mandela,
and of course, Jesus Christ.
 
But he’s thinking now about King Kong
as a secretary of something, great TV,
wanted Hannibal for VP, couldn’t find him.
 
Anyway, only he can fix it,
but he loves what KK did with
the blonde and the Empire State Building.

 


 

The cult 

When four or more are gathered 
to bleach shattered dreams,
cleanse violent need, 
the majesty of mob
absorbs the incognito sin. 
 
It contends with the human need 
to crush ivory into favorite forms,
to dramatize idols, praise all that spews 
from the mouth of the Leader,
sent as he was by the Lord. 
 
Children huddled in damp basements, 
clutching rosary beads, 
praying to Mary to save them from 
the damnation of deportation,
ask for a miracle that leads all souls to Heaven.
 
Our faith is in the Leader. 
Their fear deters, our fears 
are vindicated by his words, 
we slay the infidels for Him
and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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Craig R. Kirchner

Craig Kirchner thinks of poetry as hobo art, loves storytelling and the aesthetics of the paper and pen. He has had two poems nominated for the Pushcart, and has a book of poetry, Roomful of Navels. Craig houses 500 books in his office and about 400 poems in a folder on a laptop. These words tend to keep him straight.

After a hiatus he was recently published in Decadent Review and several dozen other journals. Craig recommends Feed the Children.