Stink of the Union

(on Bush's "State of the Union" speech, Jan. 31, 2006)

Decrying "perversion of a noble faith into
an ideology of death," Bush railed again
about Islam, but it is Christianity
that suffers most from this indignity. Amen.

To much applause at every punctuation mark,
He cautioned lest the violent inherit the earth
"with their dark vision of hatred" which, to counter
"requires the rule of law" to purchase freedom's worth.

"They're serious about mass murder," he declared,
"and would impose totalitarian control;
they want to arm with weapons of mass murder, and
seize power in Iraq," but these describe his role.

Defying the world with nuclear ambition, he
bemoaned Iran run by a "clerical elite,"
its isolation and repression of its people,
yet it is he, and here, exemplifies this feat.

Did not the beast have power, in brief authority,
to utter blasphemies? And yet they worshipped him,
saying that none could war against imperial might,
to which the media horns blare in resounding din.

If irony implies the opposite to what
words normally intend, and if he apes God's will,
Unwittingly Bush is a walking sarcasm.
"Their day will come," he prophesied. O yes, his will!

Meanwhile, the prince of this world must be satisfied
his mouthpiece in the White House answers to his cue
Telling Americans to rest assured that he
"remains on the offensive." Well, that much is true.

February 2006