Over the weekend I heard a poet speak about the power of poetry to awaken the senses, to connect people, to change the way we think and feel. And I immediately realized I’m missing the boat. The way to reach people about the election could be poetry.
Unfortunately I can’t write poetry. And I haven’t tried since 9th grade. But he said effective poems can be on the most mundane of subjects, so I figured it’s worth a try.
Ode to the Election (actually I’m not sure what defines an ode…)
I look at the map and I don’t see red states and blue states
I see purple.
As in ‘purple mountains’ majesty.’
….Or maybe I just need glasses.
Obviously there is a reason I haven’t written a poem in 40 years. But this idea of using poetry, or at least rhyme, got to me– and after several failed attempts too humiliating to publish even in the safe zone of my own blog, I did come up with a better idea: plagiarism. Set to music.
So below you will find my versions of other people’s songs. Picture a performance with Sarah Palin as the opening act for John McCain.
Sarah: (to the tune of “What a Wonderful World”)
Don’t know much about history
World affairs a total mystery
I don’t get the whole economy
Supreme Court cases draw a blank from me
Though I’d rather ban than read the books
I can see from here how Russia looks
What a wonderful Vice President I’ll be.
Don’t know much about the world outside
Ask me how to skin a moose’s hide.
Don’t know much about the bailout plan
But I made sure I can get a tan.
Evolution’s not in my world view
Global warming is a fiction, too.
What a wonderful Vice President I’ll be.
Now John with “What A Wonderful World” (apologies to Louis Armstrong)
I see war in Iran
In Georgia too
I’ll nuke a country,
Or maybe a few
And I think to myself….
It’s a John McCain world.
I see Sarah Palin
Right next to me
Helping to make
Foreign policy.
Might sound scary to be….
In a John McCain world.
I’ve got close ties to Vegas
And I love to bet,
Putting me in the White House
Is the best gamble yet.
Roll the dice and you’ll see…
It’s a John McCain world.
The economy’s a problem
For you, not for me.
So I don’t have good judgment
Or much integrity.
That’s how it will be
In a John McCain world.
I shoot from the hip
And I always talk tough.
If you’ve liked the last 8 years
And haven’t had enough
Just wait till you live..
In a John McCain world.
Avoid an encore. Vote for Obama.
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