by Michael T. Young
The great slap away the hand
that reaches out; the great know
the need of a migrant child is not
their need, and to imprison them
will make a country great.
The great watch the news but
spit foul words, praise the attacker,
the killer of journalists because this
will make a country great.
The great bellow of unity and love,
parrot Amazing Grace while grabbing
women between their legs because
this will make a country great.
The great speak their mind, act
from the gut, then deny everything—
brag because the great let no one
forget they’re great and this
makes a country great, like them.
Michael T. Young’s third full-length collection The Infinite Doctrine of Water was published by Terrapin Books. He received a Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, and his chapbook Living in the Counterpoint received the Jean Pedrick Award.
