The Comedians

The glare off Roy Orbison’s glasses,

day-long voice, a harbinger of the tall order

we’re facing. Oh America,

you’ve skinned your knee.

Oh knee, the fine bend of our simple

machines: sit, couch. I cannot,

through all the speeches

figure how we’re still hanging,

#a-pastel-colored-carriage-in-the-air.

We come to/for this: in honor

of playing host to the DNC

Philadelphia painted and posted

57 donkeys, one per state and territory,

across Center City. Where are you, Pennsylvania?

It’s not that you are never coming back to me .

Nearly carnival night, the presentation

of gifts representing a party. Oh

Roy, it’s the bitter way that I was told.