Straw Man, the 2012 Presidential Campaign

......a strange color, green

   Become better informed, listen to your teachers,
educate yourself....which branch will the bluejay
survey from? 
The hawk, circling, choose his best option?

   Bleeding soldiers depend on doctors, rich men
depend on accountants, souls depend on preachers,
tap water depends on scientists and engineers,
nourishing the parched vagaries of citizens
and houseplants.

   Words fall like acid-rain, seemingly harmless,
we thought we understood rain, it falls, it
nourishes, fills our reservoirs....then leaves a stain,
a clear outline of abuse, like evaporated salt, clinging
to our shirts after a hard day, sound bite upon bite.

   Still, we wade through flooded streets, hoping the 
tides will descend, rhetoric return to sanity, our lives 
safe, from future floods.

  after the elephants parade through every mind 

        the straw left behind

                               collects promises dumped in the streets

        polled, polished,perfumed

                               ready to sweep it all up on election day
                       
        hit pause... wait four years

                               repeat

                                                wait four years

                                                                           repeat




09/08/12
6:09 pm
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

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Eastman Avatar
October 20, 2012 at 9:28 AM
My favorite part is 'collects promises dumped in the streets.' You really caught the true essenceof it all. Quite an amazing piece you wrote.
Lander Avatar
October 17, 2012 at 7:58 PM
i love where this is going the concepts, the mis and the mishaps great theme..
Palmer Avatar
September 29, 2012 at 10:15 PM
wonderfully written James
Kendrick Avatar
September 27, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Congrats on your winning work..Enjoyed reading your political work..Maybe we need to have elections closer together no take that back I could not stand the mud slinging and lies closer than four years..Sara...Thanks for stopping by..I don't know if Holly is just a southern shrub or tree or not..I will have to look it up..
Kendrick Avatar
September 27, 2012 at 11:40 AM
I looked them up and they are cold hardy to zone 6..One could have them for just the summer but that would be very expensive..They have red berries in the winter..I have never seen a bird eat the berries but they say plant them for the birds..
Brown Avatar
September 26, 2012 at 5:10 AM
Congratulations on your win in Catie's contest Jimbo. Love, Carol
Alvez Avatar
September 24, 2012 at 9:11 PM
A Passionate write! Congratulations on your win. I enjoyed the read and the taste of truth in your words. Cynthia
Marcum Wong Avatar
September 24, 2012 at 8:49 PM
This one gets top honors in my book. Congratulations on your wonderful win with this EXCELLENT clever entry James. Going into my fav's.
Merryman Avatar
September 24, 2012 at 7:56 PM
Great write, James! Congrats on your win! Love, Kim
Guzzi Avatar
September 24, 2012 at 3:56 PM
You SEE I told you it was a winner [cause YOu are a winner!] Congrad's on your win. Light & Love
Grisetti Avatar
September 24, 2012 at 10:07 AM
This seems different from your other poems. Congratulations on your win. Your ending makes if sound so dreary, I used to think it interesting, politics, but all the ads seem sordid somehow.
A   Avatar
September 24, 2012 at 9:37 AM
James :-). Congratulations with your awesome win in Catie's "Metaphorically Speaking" contest. Have yourself a nice day~ LUV*PD
Dolly Avatar
September 20, 2012 at 4:14 PM
Wanted to check out some of your reads..I must say "Bravo!"!
Onclaud Avatar
September 20, 2012 at 2:23 PM
jimbo, got more?... tag, you're "it" :) huggs
Ellison Avatar
September 20, 2012 at 7:11 AM
A great write Jim... I'm impressed! Politics is a game rich men play as we look on! "repeat... wait four years... repeat"
Guzzi Avatar
September 19, 2012 at 6:32 PM
This would have placed in the top 5 Jimbo but you pulled it out because you didn't want to add to it as I suggested [oh silly one] it was only a sugestion to encourage you to write MORE..I never penalize anyone for not listening to my opinions [hey they are only 1 persons opinion I know that! I just like to work with poets is all] BIG BIG BIG hugs Light & Love
Johnson Avatar
September 15, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Great stuff Jim. I will be so glad when it is over for a time. Thank you for your comments. I was raised in North Dakota and my daddy raised Golden Bantam corn. Itwas wonderful. Here in Washington we had Jubilee which was jus as good until about fifteen or twenty years when the hybridizers got hold of it and ruined the taste. It would be worth moving back there if I thought I could really get good corn. Love, joyce
Onclaud Avatar
September 15, 2012 at 5:07 PM
a bold , political read, jimbo... your pacing of poetic thoughts is amazing!... greeat stuff!...vote wisely!..:) huggs
Pettit Avatar
September 14, 2012 at 12:43 PM
A good write about today's political issues.
Onclaud Avatar
September 12, 2012 at 12:21 PM
a timely write peppered with fearless thoughts about the coming historical event, jimbo... enjoyed the total image of this work.. well done!..:) huggs!
Guzzi Avatar
September 12, 2012 at 7:30 AM
Thanks Jimbo..soup mail!
Guzzi Avatar
September 11, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Great write Jimbo please enter in Stand..Contest [What happened to the Blackhawks?] Light & Love
Song Avatar
September 10, 2012 at 3:50 PM
You are wise beyond your years! Bravo for yet another power-packed political write. Strong metaphors through out! gwendolen :)
Ellison Avatar
September 8, 2012 at 8:27 PM
Same old, same old eh... and the beat goes on! A good one, James!
May Avatar
September 8, 2012 at 6:56 PM
interesting write...enjoyed
O'Leary Avatar
September 8, 2012 at 5:23 PM
Yeah... it's all kinda dismal... Nice poem though... Terry
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