by William Aarnes
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| Graphic credit: Eniola Odetunde Axios |
That shamelessness could triumph is our shame.
What tactic worked? Beyoncé’s walk-on song?
We have nobody but ourselves to blame.
Resentful people rule. So why inflame
them more with hopeful talk they hear as wrong?
That shamelessness could triumph is our shame.
You’d think by now we’d play a better game.
Why hint at climate? Why not go along—
back fossil fuels? We have ourselves to blame.
The ads we ran were far too nice. So tame.
Why not something like Haitians don’t belong?
That shamelessness could triumph is our shame.
Our nuanced stances came across as lame.
Why didn’t we present ourselves as strong
enough to bring—in days!—world peace? We’re to blame.
Next time let’s make attracting men our aim.
Why didn’t we bring up that golfer’s schlong?
That shamelessness could triumph is our shame.
We have nobody but ourselves to blame.
William Aarnes lives in Manhattan.
