Today in 1793
George Washington laid the cornerstone
to the United States Capitol building.
During the War of 1812
after the British
set it on fire
a thunderstorm saved the building
from being completely destroyed.
During the Civil War
the Capitol was used
as a hospital and barracks.
Expansions and upgrades
continued into the twentieth century
and the house
if not always the soul of democracy
has survived
despite all.
May the new president
not make any unnecessary renovations
nor intentionally bankrupt
our democratic experiment.
This poem © 2016 Emily Cooper.
