Shamestown

On this day in 1619
the House of Burgesses

that is
the lower house of the colonial Virginia legislature

convened for the first time.

The state Democratic legislative caucus
and the Black Legislative Caucus

have both said they would boycott
the 400th anniversary ceremony

after it was confirmed
that President Trump
would be delivering remarks.

Virginia State Democrats
Eileen Filler-Corn
Charniele Herring
Dick Saslaw

and Mamie Locke

summed up the collective sentiment
to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation
the organization responsible
for the ongoing commemoration events

saying
"Send him back."


This poem © 2019 Emily Cooper.

Don't Read the Articles

Today at the conservative
Turning Point USA Teen Student Action Summit

Trump did that thing
where he says he did nothing wrong

while implying that he could've done something wrong
if he'd wanted to

(but rest assured
he didn't)

assuring the audience that Mueller's report
found "no collusion"

then adding
“I have an Article II,
where I have the right to do
whatever I want as President."

Funnily enough
Article II says nothing like that

but does say
in the last section

"The President,
Vice President
and all civil Officers of the United States,

shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for,
and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery,
or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."

This is further proof
that the President is illiterate

and specifically requests
the "executive dictator version"
of all documents

including the founding ones.


This poem © 2019 Emily Cooper.

The Squad

Two days ago
the President of the United States
tweeted racist attacks

against new Representatives Ilhan Omar
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Rashida Tlaib
and Ayanna Pressley

saying
"So interesting to see 'Progressive' Democrat Congresswomen,
who originally came from countries
whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe,

the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world
(if they even have a functioning government at all),
now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States,
the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run.

Why don’t they go back and help fix the totally broken
and crime infested places
from which they came."

Three of the four Congresswomen
were born in the United States

leaving this poet to conclude
that Trump is unwittingly acknowledging
the "complete and total catastrophe"
of his own country's government.


This poem © 2019 Emily Cooper.

Plain Texas Talk

Goodbye Ross Perot

whose death reminds level-headed folks of the days
when a billionaire tycoon running for office

felt like a refreshing political alternative
rather than an apocalyptic nightmare.

And you articulated a concept
Spike Lee championed

and which Trump
will never say

which is
"Do the right thing."

This poem © 2019 Emily Cooper.

Ways and Means

In between trying to conjure up
more outrage
from our regularly depleted wells

we can be grateful
that the House Ways and Means Committee

has sued the Treasury and IRS
for Trump's tax returns

with Representative Lloyd Doggett
saying
"This long-overdue legal action is needed
to keep this bad president
from setting a bad precedent."

Not only that

but Trump's returns
featured in a parade float

would be far more fun to see
this 4th of July

(hint hint)

than military tanks
making giant potholes in the road.

This poem © 2019 Emily Cooper.