by Michael Shaler
Political prose
arguments grow old and worn
yet new outrage comes
The solution is
liberal haiku ranting
still gotta speak out
George W. Bush
for sure lost in 2000
Supreme Court railroad
then 9/11
first the terrorists, then us
good-bye civil rights
war half-world away
new twist pre-emptive striking
for God death to them
outsource your career
health care too expensive
hope, Bush drops in polls
meanwhile way out west
moderate steroid hero
join gropenator
they say no actors
except Arnie and Ronnie
cyborg and bonzo
Kerry wins debates
too smart, can see both sides
Jesusland and Rove
W, again
now take off velvet gloves
nuke-lar strikes for all
Condi Rice at state
lack of WMD can't stop
many thousands dead
give tests & close schools
but save Florida brain dead
no cash for students
can't afford doctors
maybe see your pharmacist
if viagra, yes
in California
Arnold's found the enemy
teachers, nurses, us
invite minutemen
free style ranger on the border
no questions, just shoot
gasoline way high
death, Iraqi oil, three bucks
drive, buy, spend, party
Deep Throat hero told
some critical even now
truth telling not vogue
deny marriage rights
we must only procreate
can't really say why
desperate housewife
indeed, here we are all this
it's a free country
A former bilingual teacher in California public schools, Michael Shaler earned an MFA at San Francisco State. Currently at work on a novel, his fiction is forthcoming in The MacGuffin, and his nonfiction is forthcoming or has appeared in Elysian Fields Quarterly and The Dusty Shelf.