Poetry

Reuters photo

By

Don Krieger

Was It Funny?

Michelle Wolf performed last night

at the White House Correspondents’ dinner,

an occasion for good humor, fellowship,

where the great stand mute and roast.

She opened,

… I’m not trying to get anything accomplished, so everyone … from Congress … feel right at home …

Our President did not attend,

… the one pussy you’re not allowed to grab …

nor our Vice-President,

… just when you think Trump is awful, you remember Mike Pence.

but Sarah Sanders was front and center and she was pissed.

… what’s Uncle Tom, but for white women who disappoint other white women? …

The media people were there

… make fun of Sean Hannity … but I cannot do that; this dinner is for journalists…

and …

… Rachel Maddow … the Peter Pan of MSNBC … instead of never growing up, she never gets to the point …

The 24-hour news networks …

… could be covering everything. But instead … three topics. … Trump, Russia, Hillary and a panel of four people …

and …

… You’re obsessed with Trump … You helped create this monster, and now you’re profiting …

Was it funny?

Surely it was clever and informed,

the jokes well written,

the delivery perfect.

Was it too true,

or is tyranny too close to home

and hardly mentioned

so it simply missed the mark?

Click here for an audio reading of the poem

Don Krieger

I have built satellites, worked in the operating room, been in a cult, …

I earn my living as part of a group which is trying to understand and treat head injury.

In my poetry and short blog pieces, I want to express ideas with unambiguous clarity and intensity.

I willingly sacrifice rhyme and meter, art, cleverness, elegance, and beauty for these.