Last night’s Breaking News! had no surprises, no shocking
revelations, no human drama. Just another humdrum story
of a feckless authoritarian and his desperate need
to bask in the blaring spotlight of fame.
The Kardashians have no appeal with their fake reality
spiel. Limited series streaming shows wear me down
within a season’s run, maybe two, as lead characters stale.
The latest in fashion left me in its wake decades ago.
But over his seven-year run of political chicanery,
the bard of bluster has wrapped his puny hand around
my neck – commanded me to pay attention to his every
twerpy tweet, every degrading nickname, every smashing
of decency and decorum … and I have.
Now I’m just an exhausted, broken news junkie, praying that
for once – just once – the breathless pundits will be right,
and this reign of Trumpian terror will soon be at an end –
along with my desire to dwell in each salacious scandal.
Oh, that will be a glorious day – better than lilacs blooming
in spring; better than songbirds waking up to sing;
better than Yo-Yo Ma’s deft bowing of an emotive
cello string. Even better than a rapacious rapper’s bling.
So I’m going cold turkey on news right now, not waiting
for his inevitable slipping of the knot. But just to be sure
I don’t miss the big day, I think I better take one more peek
at the Times…and CNN…and NPR…and…
About the Poem
Trump’s announcement that he is running for president again guarantees at least another 188 months of his incessant, spotlight-seeking, antics. It’s all too much.
About the Author
Rick Blum has been chronicling life’s vagaries through essays and poetry for more than 30 years during stints as a nightclub owner, high-tech manager, market research mogul, and, most recently, old geezer. His writings have appeared in more than 60 magazines and literary journals, as well as in numerous poetry anthologies. He is also a frequent contributor to the Humor Times.