Another gem of poetic art from TMV’s favorite poet, Michael Silverstein aka Wall Street Poet:
By Michael Silverstein
In 2008 we’ll have a woman, a Black, a Latino, a Mormon, and an unemployed Italian mayor running for president. Shouldn’t there be a socialist in there as well? Indeed, given the warped state of the American economy, would that be such a bad idea — if only to get out ideas about fairness that have been sorely lacking in our politics for many years? Bernie Sanders, socialist senator from Vermont, step forward…
Bernie For President
I had a dream the other night
About this country’s politics;
I dreamed that for too many years
We haven’t had no real picks.(Bernie’s different from the pack,
Has some views that others lack.)These days we hear a lot of news
About countries out to build the bomb;
But truth be told what worries me’s
The sinking ship I’m drifting on.(Sure I’m sad bout Baghdad’s ills,
But sadder about my Visa bills.)Our nation’s wealth just grows and grows.
A picture most inspi-er-ing;
But most new wealth, to old wealth flows,
I’m left in debt en-mi-er-ing.(CEOs make out big time,
I squeeze by on overtime.)One size fits all ain’t right by me,
No comps for smarts ain’t clever;
But just as bad, a game that’s rigged
By lobbies’ K Street’ lever.(Could sixties lefties long a’tooth,
See their ideas respawned forsooth?)©2007 Michael Silverstein
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.