David X Novak
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Signs o’ the Times

7/23/2017

 
“Anthony Scaramucci, the just-named communications director, [dominated] the lectern... [and professed] his love—20 times—for President Trump and his administration.” (New York Times, July 21, 2017)
When presidents demand that “love”
    Be shown them by the people,
Such signs predict the future rough
    As omens-on-the-cheap’ll.

If acquiesced to, it admits
    Democracy has died;
Love germinates when it befits
    Humility, not pride.

Yet here we have an autocrat
    Not “of” nor “by” nor “for”
The people, but himself, and that
    About closes the door

Upon the great experiment
    Save citizens arise
Adherent to what Lincoln meant
    At Gettysburg—words wise.

Yet, forty years prepared the ground
    With moral apathy,
As to that office Reagan clowned,
    And taught hypocrisy.


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