“This is the part of my speech
where I share
some inspirational quotes I found on Google”
said 18-year-old
Pineville Kentucky
Bell County High School valedictorian Ben Bowling
to the 82-percent
Trump-voting audience
“‘Don’t just get involved.
Fight for your seat at the table.
Better yet
fight for a seat
at the head of the table.'
—Donald J. Trump.”
Applause rang out
until moments later
Bowling burst their bubble
and said
“Just kidding.
Just kidding.
That was Barack Obama"
and save for a few giggles
and a solitary "Boo"
silenced the room completely
revealing not so flatteringly
that Trump's attribution
of Obama's legacy
(the parts he likes at least)
to himself
are the only way
some voters
will remember it.
This poem © 2018 Emily Cooper.
