“Legislative Legerdemain”
Illustration at stanford.edu
French-cuffed gestures trickle with sarcasm
from blood red links of sardonyx signets
fluttering fingers speak coherent hypocrisy
collecting catastrophe out of the air
they fold fulgent lightning bolts
flatten fat thunder clouds
crease leaden skies along envelope lines
to pocket and hold
against dangerous days
when falsehood and secrets refuse to stay hidden
then comes time that the brazen
throw open the storms
unleash their disasters
and let facts emerge but only amidst
the dishonesty roiling with clamor and clash
sleight of sardonic hands draws mass misdirection
to mayhem that rips at the senses
lashing the innocent ground of town greens
and those guileless guilty straining to stand
unaware as truth dissipates unto the winds
Poesy plus Polemics 