Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Trumputin



image from Vanity Fair


Trumputin 

“It is said that wrath is the last thing in a man to
grow old.”--Alcaeus.

The world staggers
in stunned disbelief
as Trump improvises
the grandest reality
show in history--the
American Presidency.

Already, historians cringe as they envision
recording Trump’s term(s) for posterity; for
it will be as thick as the New York phone book
and as surreal as a William Burroughs’ novel.

My soul’s anger boils over
every day now, without fail,
as we watch him strangling
democracy, reshaping Congress
to his will like Stalin,
                like Caligula astride Mussolini
                while worshipping Hitler. 

My personal wrath
feels as futile
as a broken bat,
as useless as spurs
on an ice cream cone.

As our nightmare deepens, and the free press
is threatened and maligned, I wonder where this
insanity is leading--to gulags,
                               to servitude,
                               to surrender,
                               to slavery,
                               to the murdering of all who 
oppose him--as he pines for the royal title
of President for Life?

Christ Almighty, snap out of it America!
Fascism no longer hides in the shadows.
It stands in the sun spread-legged, arms
folded, eyes ablaze, unleashing hellhounds. 



Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at dVerse Poets Pub

11 comments:

Frank Hubeny said...

Nice way of describing it: "Trump improvises
the grandest reality
show in history". I hadn't thought of it as a reality show before.

said...

Wow. The last two sentences are so strong.

jo said...


This is amazing! I'm Canadian and yet still understand you wrath -- a very well written piece.

Grace said...

Snap out of it America and vote wisely in the mid-term elections ~ You deserve a better leader who can lead you back to greatness and your valudes ~ I really miss your former president.


Your neighbor in Canada

Kim M. Russell said...

You say it as it is, Glenn, and you say it well. How is it that the whole world sees Trump for what he is but apparently America doesn't? Or didn't. Hopefully, now that he has tripped up one too many times, the worm has turned and America will show it doesn't want a worm at the White House.
I love the phrase 'the grandest reality show in history' and I could be excused for thinking the phrase 'as thick as the New York phone book' refers to the man himself. The wrath is worldwide: we didn't want him in the UK and tried to show him in our protests but he was steered away and didn't get the full blast of our wrath. I can't believe he's getting away with it. The final image is scary:
'Fascism no longer hides in the shadows.
It stands in the sun spread-legged, arms
folded, eyes ablaze, unleashing hellhounds'.

Amaya said...

Your title sounds like a Dostoevsky villain. And in another time in history, I think of public displays of brutality, spectacles for the mob, coliseums of people out for blood but not their own. I think of those during the "big game days" who chose not to enter the stadiums or arenas surrounding the lynchings and think about their clear consciences and maybe even their peace, despite the madness of their society.

annell4 said...

A wonderful write!! Your words are true!

Katie Mia Frederick said...

SMiLes mY FriEnd.. Glenn for Trump is only as Great as the
People who continue to support him and the Challenge for
America now is to see just how Great those Supporters are
so ironically
the Majority
Call themselves
Christian so interestingly
it just goes to Show how
Much Trumps Truly Wrote
much of the Bible that still exists..
Perhaps this will open more eyes
to the Ignorance of History that uses
a Label of God as Empty Vessel of Love
just to Control and Subjugate others namely
mostly Reproductive Control by naming something
as Beautiful as Lust Evil and Controlling Love to whatever
Parts the Mob Rule Wants.. Fascism is an Integral Part
oF A Tribal
God always
was and will
Always be
A Trump
God New STiLL of
the Old Testament
Just waiting to Take control
With Minions willing to Look
the Other Way as Love Dies a
Slow and Suffering Death but alas
Trump has shown himself as so Ignorant
From Love and Love Still Exists at least outside
Mosts Churches
oF Lies..
As i Giggle i know
People more specifically
the Younger Generation
up close and personal too..
all this means in the Long Run
is Bernie Sanders for Real a Vice
President who is a Woman and Likely
Then A Woman President After that with
Universal Health Care coming in the Next
Decade too.. for it's True the United States
is Turning Browner and there are some things
Lovers
True
Lovers
Patriots
Never forget..
Separating Children
from Parents and Treason are just
two to count recently to start even more..:)

lillianthehomepoet.wordpress.com said...

like Caligula astride Mussolini--YES! And the title: Trumputin.
Interesting to see the responses of those from outside the US. It is indeed frightening to see what is happening....and now an invitation to Putin to come to the Whitehouse in the fall?????
It strikes me.....Trump's logo Make America Great Again....
we should usurp it because, indeed, in the 2018 and 2020 election, I hope folks wake up and begin to make American great again. He has truly denigrated so much.
PS: Just getting to read the weeks' posts....apologies for the tardiness.

Kathy Reed said...

I also am all over this on my Facebook page. It cost some people unfriending me. I'm right there fighting with you.

Lona Gynt said...

Snap out of it indeed. I agree. Down here in Alabama I we continue to coddle our virulent tribalism at the expense of our freedom. I had been usually Republican in my leanings, but any child can see easily from the get go who this man is. We can have a moderate center left, center right discussion in this country, but not as long as republicans continue to be Trumpologists (apologists). Heaven help us to come to ourselves. Anyone catch the Trump dig in my Broken Quadrille btw? Or was it too opaque? We need this Nuremberg Theatracist out of our White House. Punishing the republicans in the mid-terms is the first step. For the first time in my life this life long Republican plans to vote straight Dem party ticket. Fat lot of good it will do in Alabama, but might send a message.