Day Four of National Poetry Month’s “Poem a Day.” Feeling my oats, thanks to Poetic Blooms (see below for process notes and sites). Peace, Amy
MRS. CLEAN WIPES THE SLATE
Woe to you, lobbyist and profiteer
Avenue K will be set on its ear
Begone, day traders sipping hot
MochaccinoSkinnyNoWhipLattes,
as your fingers scurry over the laptop keyboard,
some letters and most numbers worn off,
scars of fiscal battle
Gird your loins, o members of Congress,
for your days of feasting shall draw to a close
as I focus my wrath on your graft
Whosoever can be bought will be for naught
Sweeping streets and slaving in call centers
(for a living wage, of course)
The payola shall be purged
Elections no longer auctioned to the highest bidder
(or Brother), nor Diebold election machines
glean false numbers from pro-Machine hackers
Even the Supremes will feel my ire for
conspiring to convince us corporations possess
ears, eyes, tongues… and souls
For I, Mrs. Clean, now hold the power:
Contained in the Golden Rule,
affirmed by the Great Commandment of Love
I am trusted by even the crustiest atheist
(because I’ll drink coffee and shoot the shit
with people of every belief or non-belief)
Mrs. Clean will change the scene and proclaim
the mighty truth: Democrats and Republicans
stink of graft equally, and in good measure
President Obama should bring our troops home NOW
And when that is set right, the real work begins:
Mitt Romney will wash windows at women’s clinics
Newt Gingrich will scrub toilets in public restrooms
Hillary Clinton will bake free cookies on 12-hour shifts without
breaks, just like Chinese children work on her watch
Ron Paul will oversee Area 51 but make no more money
than the baristas at the low-cost local cafes
Rush Limbaugh will be bombasting “Would you
like fries with that?” in a little paper hat
Michelle Bachmann will be sent back to middle school
to learn history and how to recognize gay boyfriends
And Sarah Palin? Field-dress THIS
© 2012 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For Poetic Bloomings – a second take on their prompt, Superheros, which I had answered earlier with “Reflector Babe.” Also at my site of sites, Poets United and that dynamite poets’ cafe, dverse.
Sharp Little Pencil 
claudia
haha…Hillary baking free cookies on 12-hour shifts…i’d love to see that…some of those politicians just have no idea how it feels to really do the hard work…once a leading german politician was interviewed and she said she has no idea what half a pound of butter costs…and this really made me mad..
Sharp Little Pencil
Believe me, NO ONE in Congress knows the everyday American life. They let their (undocumented immigrant) help do the shopping, then scream bloody murder about “illegals” in public. Hyprocrites. Peace, Amy
El Guapo
Excellent! I heard this in my head as a poetry slam.
And from your pencil to gods ears!
Sharp Little Pencil
Wish I had God’s ear once in a while. Ha ha ha. Gracias, Guapo!
vivinfrance
I don’t recognise all the names and political illusions, but I get the gist: you’re not happy about the state of the nation?
Sharp Little Pencil
Dear Viv, yes, this is what I am gently attempting to convey… ha ha ha
Evelyn
Lots of awesome lines here…
“some letters and most numbers worn off,
scars of fiscal battle”
AND
“Whosoever can be bought will be for naught
Sweeping streets and slaving in call centers”
my only suggestion is I think this stanza should end the poem…
“For I, Mrs. Clean, now hold the power:
Contained in the Golden Rule,
affirmed by the Great Commandment of Love”
I think this ends this powerful political poem on a positive hopeful commanding note…less cheeky.
great stuff! Im jealous. I cant write political poems.
Sharp Little Pencil
Want to hear something funny? My husband like all the parts after that more than before it! This tells me I probably have two completely different political rants masquerading as one poem. This is great feedback, Evelyn, valuable, and I thank you! Peace, Amy
Evelyn
I like all the parts, I would just scoot that part as the end…
No problem. Please feel free to return the favor 🙂
wordsandthoughtspjs
LMAO! Amy, you go girl! Love this!
Pamelita
Sharp Little Pencil
I just KNEW they had great coverage of American politics south of the border, LOL. Thanks, Pamelita! A
wordsandthoughtspjs
Absolutely Amelita. We get CNN, in fact.
Pamela
btw just read Santorum is out, it is a good day here 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Amen and Amen! I know it’s politically incorrect, but in my mental health support group, we call him “Rick Sanitarium.” LOL
Kim Nelson
HA! You tell ’em Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
I keep tellin’ ’em, but nobody listens. And I wonder why my application for an internship at the United Nations keeps getting returned in the mail, ha ha ha.
booguloo
Interesting take on our political leaders(?) and their roles. smile
Sharp Little Pencil
Michael, LOVE your (?) comment. Spot on! Amy
Dick Jones
Rough, tough and right on the money! A great piece of poetic polemic, Amy.
Sharp Little Pencil
Bless you, Dick. I cannot seem to connect with your link… want to check out your work! Amy
oldegg
Mrs. Clean I love it when you are angry. Now a few million more like you and then we will see change.
Sharp Little Pencil
If you could see my house, you’d find that “Mrs. Clean” applies only to my political opinions! The Occupy movement is close to my heart, especially because they have held out by not stating one particular issue, much as the media want them to. They are simply doing a Howard Beale, I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take this anymore!
brian miller
haha i only wish you had said powers…and made them work for it…now that would be the day…no more free rides…now field dress this….ha!
Sharp Little Pencil
Brian, I knew you’d like that line! You’re a funny, sick puppy, too! See you on the blogs, Amy
Renee Espriu
When you are on a roll, you are on a roll. I so agree with Pamela. Whoa!
Sharp Little Pencil
Renee, you and Pamela and peas in a pod, along with so many poets, that little pod is about to burst! This is definitely a Leftie haven, this blog, even though I have lots of readers who disagree, and we do debate politely and maturely! Amy
Renee Espriu
I love that it is a ‘Leftie Haven’ and everything you write, although cutting edge, is telling it like it is. I appreciate that being the realist that I am. Maybe that is why we hit it off. Here is one from my site you might like to read. http://reneejustturtleflight.com/2012/04/04/paisley-and-plaid/
Sharp Little Pencil
I’m telling it like I think it is, and I never shy away from calling out those in power whom I think are doing wrong, including the president, no matter which party. I will not stop haranguing Pres. Obama about the war. Peace Prize, my ass. But the Koch Brothers’ agenda is simply evil incarnate and we will live to regret it if we let America become an oligarchy, suffering at the hands of trust fund babies. I’m coming over now, and thanks so much, Renee! Peace, Amy
Patti
Oh, Mrs. Clean, I want to vote for you! I love the final line.
Sharp Little Pencil
Patti, the day I run for office, shoot me. I’d rather be a gadfly and support the good candidates. Unfortunately, they are always beaten by the bad ones who take the corporate payola… thanks! Amy
kaykuala
Serve them right, Amy! Those profiteers and day traders ought to be told sweat is necessary. And the politicians, let them do some real work instead of talking.Talking is cheap! Mrs Clean is sweeping clean,hear ye! You made a unique stand as a political poet, that’s just great! Very refreshing! And very powerful verse!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you, Hank. Problem is, a whole generation of “trust fund babies” who never did an honest day’s work in their lives are either running for office or throwing millions behind those who will do their bidding. (George W. Bush as president, the Koch Brothers as funders). SIckening. Amy
Steve King
Just great Amy. Out with them all. A well needed tonic against all the blather we’re receiving from both sides. Nice job.
Sharp Little Pencil
Steve, thanks! We ARE getting it from both sides, because both sides are being bought and paid for. The Republicans, however, are being bought by the Koch Brothers, who have already paid for enough junkets for Supreme Court members (excluding Ginsberg, Stevens, Solomayor, and Breyer) to get Citizens United passed, which makes corporations PEOPLE. Aargh! Amy
purplepeninportland
Oh Amy, this is priceless. What I wouldn’t give to see Rush at rush hour in his hat.
Sharp Little Pencil
Ha ha ha. And the manager yelling, “Who named you Rush anyway? You’re too damned slow on the shake machine, get with it!” For seven fifty an hour, plus benes if you want to buy them, great!! Thanks PIP, loved this. Amy