putin’s puppet
dances
on
strings
of
lies
and
alibis
and
without
a backbone
it’s
quick
to blame
others
for
all
its missteps
but
alas
unlike
the puppet
who dances
bebop
when
his
master
gets up
and
leaves
it
cannot
stand
alone
so
falls flat
upon its face
whimpering
in the night
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i stopped by
aunt bea’s
on the way home
from work
on friday
feeling depressed
about
congressional certification
of
what’s-his-name
expressing the same
to her
asking how
as a nation
we would survive
aunt bea
said
when your mother
and
i
would go to church
we always
sat at the back
away from
the busybodies
that shared more gossip
than
gospel
during sunday service
from there
you could see
the choirs
on
those sundays
when we had
two choirs
the senior choir
would
always
have to be
first
followed
by the youth choir
so
most folks
arrived
late
preacher
would always
delay the collection plate
until
the youth choir
had awakened
the congregation
and
got folks
amen-ing
so
the bills
could get paid
i still recall
the first time
your aunt elizabeth
sang
how great thou art
lord
even the deacons
put money
in the collection plate
that day
how
that woman
could sing
and
fortunately
for pastor
she was the head
of the youth choir
which meant
manna from heaven
when
the youth choir
was featured
every other sunday
well
i cannot
for the sake
of me
recall
why
i started telling
you
about that
oh
now i remember
how will we survive
the next few years
simple
in the hearts
and
with
the strength
of
our youths
