Gershon Wolf Poet Ode

Ode To Silent Cal Coolidge

They called him 'Silent Cal'
  He didn't say very much at all
President about 100 years ago
  Seems like longer than that now, though

Guests at White House Parties
  Waxed eloquent in line and verse
While Cal Coolidge sat there nervous
  His responses tense and terse

On campaign barnstorming trains
  Reporters engaged him in vain
One told Coolidge he'd bet a bottle of booze ~
  He could get Cal to say three or more words 
    ~ The President smirked, "You lose."

                 ********
In today's age of frenetic bloviation
  When media excesses choke inspiration
We can better appreciate Silent Cal Coolidge
  Who rarely said anything ~ let alone foolish


                   February 18, 2020
   Ode to a President or Politician or... Contest
          Sponsor: Sheri Fresonke Harper

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Connie Marcum Wong March 4, 2020 at 10:11 AM Very well expressed Gershon. Congratulations on your win! xxoo

Alexis Y. March 4, 2020 at 4:51 AM Hi Gershon, Congratulations on your winning write. Have a great day:-) Alexis Gershon Wolf March 4, 2020 at 8:06 PM Thank you so much, Alexis! :) Gershon

Carolyn Devonshire March 3, 2020 at 1:18 PM :) Sometimes those who speak the most, really have little to say. Would have liked to meet Coolidge. Really appreciated his comment to the reporter: "You lose." Very clever. Congratulations on your win, Gershon! Hugs, Carolyn Gershon Wolf March 3, 2020 at 1:55 PM Thank you so much, Carolyn.

John Watt March 2, 2020 at 11:50 PM Gershon, well done on your ode - liked your use of the '3 words' anecdote and the comparison with present day political culture. Congrats on your win ~ John Gershon Wolf March 3, 2020 at 1:53 PM Thanks, John. Oops --- just exceeded Coolidge's word limit! LOL. :) gw

Sheri Fresonke Harper March 2, 2020 at 10:49 PM Congratulations Gershon on your 10th place win in the Ode for a Leader or Politician Past or Present contest. I loved how you tied your homage to a potent point, but it was a little light on homage, maybe one more stanza? Thanks for entering, I enjoyed reading it. Gershon Wolf March 3, 2020 at 1:52 PM Thanks, Sheri... Didn't have much to draw on with Cal other than his brevity, I guess. Best wishes, Gershon

Caren Krutsinger February 18, 2020 at 11:24 AM I long for those days actually. Gershon Wolf February 18, 2020 at 5:17 PM Much wisdom in silence. See Michelle's comment below. Thanks, Caren!

Michelle Faulkner February 17, 2020 at 11:30 AM Makes me think of that famous line - 'Better be silent and thought a fool/than speak, and remove all doubt' - this is both amusing and wise! John Watt March 2, 2020 at 11:51 PM Amen to that! Gershon Wolf February 18, 2020 at 5:18 PM ---As is your comment, Michelle -- amusing and wise! :)