Poetry

Chris Beckett photo

By

Dotty LeMieux

Time Lies Heavy on the Head of State

When you’re waiting for an indictment

and the next hot take from the White House

You need distraction from “Where are the children?”

and “I did not collude with those Russians!”

So you go for a long walk

with dogs who never think of time

And the sky is suddenly blue

devoid of contrails or conspiracies

The children are all accounted for

in the playground with moms and nannies

The Russians are all in books written

by guys with long unpronounceable names

Time stands still for a while

Water is clean and populated by ducks

Air is fresh and not a coal plant

in sight, nor tar sands nor asbestos

Walls are for holding in the earth

for lilies and roses and geraniums

No one is denied a plane

or told to go back where they came from

We are all where we belong

Dogs can tell you that

Every step, every joyous leap,

every play bite on the leash

is equal opportunity for fun

and love of life on the one day they take

at a time.

Dotty LeMieux

Dotty LeMieux has published three chapbooks: Let us not Blame Foolish Women, Tombouctou Press; The Land, Smithereens Press; and Five Angels, Five Trees Press. She published the literary journal, The Turkey Buzzard Review for several years in the late 1970’s, early 80’s. Currently, she lives in northern California with her husband and two dogs where she practices law and helps progressive candidates with their election to office.

Dotty is proud to have been a Bernie Sanders delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention.