Today’s poem is presented without commentary.

The Cacophony Subsides

While the Capitol Rotunda echoes
the new beeps of metal detectors
& the gavel cracks of failure to convict
  he quietly goes about the work of governing;

while pundits screech their latest fabricated insinuations
& newsreaders shout their weightiest insinuated fabrications,
his pen opens all volunteers to volunteer to serve openly
  he quietly goes about the work of governing;

Returning to accords & allies & agendas,
reprising briefings & readouts & pressers,
he has traded chaos & commotion & clamor
  in order to quietly go about the work of governing;

Consulting in private with parents in need,
away from the cameras and spotlight,
away from the hubbub and townhall activity,
  he quietly goes about the work of governing;

And over the cancerous rants of alt-right radio
no more silent with one less cad about
over the durm and strang of hypocritical opposition 
  he quietly goes about the work of governing;

And when the Lone Star State,
frozen in its unregulated splendor,
makes its call for socialistic savior,
  he quietly goes about the work of governing;

And when the windbags wag the dog,
scandalizing about the presidential nature of domesticated canines,
rescued or not, 
and stay mum about purebred snowflakes, abandoned in heatless
& waterless abodes, while owners seek warmer, southern climes,
  he quietly goes about the work of governing;

And when the windmills wind still
and when the pipelines pipe nothing
and the water that trickles can’t be boiled
  he quietly goes about the work of governing

And amidst national theme songs
and anthemic chants,
behind the announcements for departure
and the ouches announcing vaccine jabs,
without the headlines trumpeting his name
and the groans and moans and signs
 of exasperation and fatigue and
 bewildered wonder

   he quietly goes about the work of governing.

©David Siller – 2021

*****

For the first 100 days of the Biden administration, this website will feature a new poem of What’s Next!? These pieces can be calls to action, calls to attention, or calls to anger. They will light the way and guide the fight. They will get us moving and keep our momentum. They will be filled with hope, with anger, with sorrow. They will get us into good trouble and point out the trouble we need to stop. They will be polished gems, or rough-cut drafts of rage, or in-process pieces searching for peace. They may be haiku or tanka, limericks or lyrics, verses free or fettered.

#100Days100Poems of What’s Next!? wants your poems, your prose, your visual art (photos, drawings, sculptures), your music, your short films and animations. Interpret the theme as broadly as you’d like.

If you would like to submit to this endeavor, please send an email, with your visual art (as .jpg or .pdf) or your poem saved as a word document (.docx) to waxyandpoetic AT gmail DOT com. Include a short bio (2-3 sentences) and social media/website information. All rights remain with the author. Please address any formatting preferences in your email. Waxyandpoetic.com will post submissions time permitting, with at least one per day beginning 20 January 2021.

Read, follow, share, submit, live, love, spread light! Don’t forget to use #100Days100Poems !