executive order

Ariel 1967 (California)



he doesn’t like being questioned
that’s why he ran away

left the room, closed the doors
took his toys with him

so he wouldn’t have to answer;
he doesn’t like being pressed for details

or actual facts, reluctant to reveal he doesn’t know
he'll keep it vague, like any con man

repeat the same salesman script
toss in multi-syllable words to make it sound

almost like he knows what he's doing.
but he misapplies them, not knowing their meaning -

a puppet trying to appear puppet-master
this was his moment as "leading man"

too bad he doesn’t know how to lead, to be a hero
who knew he would be expected to do things,

know things, be honest
(his wife didn't), he didn't as a figurehead.

when i watch him, i think of "dune", of beast rabben
and next to him - republicans' appointed feyd

the power hungry don’t realize we've been watching
anticipating that bait and switch when pence is placed

christian sharia and law installed
perhaps donny is now realizing the player got played

his lackeys weren't comrades in arms
but hold his strings, move his mouth.

this child who walked out of ceremony.
i'm disappointed - not in him

he’s always been a bad actor, broadcasting every move,
screaming every tell - no, it’s americans

not seeing feyd waiting, placed on the board -
his cruelty will seem a kindness, thanks to the beast

About this poem

Published in Terra Incognita: Oregon Poets Write for Ecological, Social, Political and Economic Justice. Bob Hill Publishing.2019

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Written on March 31, 2017

Submitted by Ariel on September 19, 2021

Modified on April 01, 2023

1:13 min read
2

Quick analysis:

Scheme AX XB CX DE XX FF CE DX XX DA FX XX XX XB XX XX
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,324
Words 239
Stanzas 16
Stanza Lengths 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2

Ariel

Ariel is a full-time Pacific Northwest poet, often participating at Oregon Open Mics events. She has been published in Gold Man Review, AIM, The Widow’s Handbook, and most recently in Terra Incognita, On The Platform Waiting and Free From Monsters. Ariel often collaborates in many Willamette Valley poetry/art projects and is a member of Oregon Poetry Association, Mid-Valley Poets Association, Willamette Writers and Poet. Her website is poetariel.net. more…

All Ariel poems | Ariel Books

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