David Dixon
MAKE AMERICA (the) GARDEN AGAIN
In another ending to the fable
the emperor is still buck naked
and his entire court is similarly
exposed. It is not a sight for the
faint-hearted nor a proper role
model for small children even
the one who says “but Mommy,
that’s a big shiny butt” for we
don’t even look anymore as
fake news becomes no news
and though no one will admit
to wearing no clothes or even
being garment challenged and
heaven only knows what sights
they might see in the mirror
there are those who say we
should make us all naked again
— like the good old days — like
before we exalted all we have
laid bare — before we polished
off the whole bowl of forbidden
fruit in one sitting — yes, back
to the very Garden perhaps
when one bite was too much
and agreeing on our ungodliness
we still could feel the shame
David Dixon is a physician, poet, and musician who lives and practices in the foothills of North Carolina. His poetry has appeared in Rock & Sling, The Northern Virginia Review, Connecticut River Review, FlyingSouth 2018, and elsewhere.
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