Hindsight is Not 2020

Whether using a speech
honoring Navajo code talkers

as an opportunity
to mock
with his tried-and-true insult "Pocahontas"

Elizabeth Warren's
purported heritage

(which is worth a discussion
but not then
and never by Trump)

in front of a painting
of Andrew Jackson

or semi-regularly risking war
with North Korea

or defending Roy Moore
in the name of his party

even at huge cost
to his party

John McCain
sums up the heart of the man
when he says

he lacks “principles and beliefs”
and “takes advantage of situations.”

It may sound obvious
to many or most Americans now

but all of us in fact
are capable of recognizing the obvious

the difference being
before or after
we get blindsided by it.

This poem © 2017 Emily Cooper.

The Malevolent in the Room

Kellyanne Conway
is trying something new

namely the art of speaking something truthful
about the disgraced Roy Moore
and implicating other men

with as-yet-unknown (to us)
records of sexual harassment or abuse

while simultaneously ignoring
the very well known
behaviors and actions of her boss.

Said she to ABC News on Sunday
with a straight face
“If there’s anyone currently in public office
who has behaved that way
to any girl or woman

maybe they should step aside."

Though to be fair
she did say "public office"

and Trump has no intention
of serving the public.

This poem © 2017 Emily Cooper.

Indecent Exposure

One year ago
Trump felt close
but comfortably far away.

Today Trump's opponents
are saying of his actually real actions
in reality
"I told you so"

while former supporters
are claiming "I didn't know"

and Trump is the open secret
and the open wound
that is now
impossible to hide.

As for a year from now

well at least sunlight
is a natural disinfectant

and the possibility of eventual justice
or an least an airing-out
of dirty laundry

is something a little like hope.





This poem © 2017 Emily Cooper.