Seems a Century Ago

Seems a century ago

There was a picture
of Bill Clinton
in the paper
this morning.

Every time I see
that face,
I think of sunshine pouring
in the end of a tunnel.
I see a balanced budget.
I see surplus.
I see the first bombers
of the towers
caught.
I see dead American soldiers
counted in the hundreds
rather than thousands.

I do not see
torture condoned
as accepted policy.
I see the obligatory sex "scandals"
at least being hetero.
I see when Canadian money
was worth less than ours.
I see a time when lying
was something to be ashamed of,
not official policy
to be bragged about.

Doug Palmer