Two men riding a train to Blue Ridge
seated opposite Calvin Coolidge
They bet the POTUS they could get on his nerves
that they could make him say more than two words
But try as they might, Calvin’s lips were sealed tight
all through the day and then through the night
The entire time Coolidge sat there quite amused
at his stop opened his mouth, said ~ “You lose!”
sentimental
eccentricity
ironically
earnest
quaint
& quirky
extravagent
phenomena
instantaneously
understood
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
Calvin Coolidge
!....?...!!...? (.)...(.) No please
1933 the Great Depression hit
" I feel I no longer fit"- his tweet
'Tis well known that "Silent Cal" Coolidge was a man of very few words!
He considered that long conversations and inane babble was for the birds!
A lady bet if she could elicit more than two words from him it would make news.
He mulled over her challenge for a few minutes and replied, "You lose!"
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
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