COUNSELOR: Poetry Crisis Line, what is your emergency?
CALLER: Not like the brazen giant
COUNSELOR: I do not like him either. Though I don’t think he’s as big a deal as he claims. And he seems to have lost a lot of stature since the election.
CALLER: of Greek fame,
COUNSELOR: They had frats at his fake university?
CALLER: With conquering limbs
COUNSELOR: (snicker) –and tiny hands–
CALLER: astride from land to land;
COUNSELOR: Yep. I think Mueller’s about to prove that.
CALLER: Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates
COUNSELOR: Is that it then? Do you think it’s nightfall? Or do you think America–
CALLER: shall stand
COUNSELOR: I’m so glad to hear it. So who do you pick for 2020?
CALLER: A mighty woman
COUNSELOR: Gillibrand? Harris? Duckworth?
CALLER: with a torch,
COUNSELOR: Agent Scully? In the US we call them flashlights. But I think she’s Canadian.
CALLER: whose flame / Is the imprisoned lightning,
COUNSELOR: The new Thor from the comics?
CALLER: and her name
COUNSELOR: I don’t remember it either, but yeah, Thor is a woman now.
CALLER: Mother of Exiles.
COUNSELOR: I’m not up on that comic, but I think Rogue is the mother of Mimic, and Scarlet Witch is the mother of Nocturne.
CALLER: From her beacon-hand
COUNSELOR: [sings] Call me Beacon Hand. Any relation to Judge Learned Hand? Of course, the Crimson Tide went blue on Tuesday.
CALLER: Glows world-wide welcome;
COUNSELOR: That was welcome news. Did you see what Maxine Waters said?
CALLER: her mild eyes
COUNSELOR: I’ll take that as a no.
CALLER: command / The air-bridged harbor
COUNSELOR: Wait…are we talking about Wonder Woman now?
CALLER: that twin cities
COUNSELOR: Al Franken? I was kind of upset when I heard that he was–
CALLER: frame.
COUNSELOR: You think he was framed? I mean, it’s clear that there was a smear campaign, but that doesn’t mean–
CALLER: “Keep
COUNSELOR: I know, my opinions out of it, or I’ll have to go to retraining again. I’m just so jazzed after Tuesday. So what issues are important to you?
CALLER: ancient lands,
COUNSELOR: So, protecting native heritage and national parks…
CALLER: your storied pomp!”
COUNSELOR: …free speech…
CALLER: cries she
COUNSELOR: …women’s issues…
CALLER: With silent lips.
COUNSELOR: …a voice for survivors…
CALLER: “Give me your tired,
COUNSELOR: …a shorter work day…
CALLER: your poor,
COUNSELOR: … and a living wage …
CALLER: Your huddled masses
COUNSELOR: … health care for cancer patients…
CALLER: yearning to breathe free,
COUNSELOR: …air quality…
CALLER: The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
COUNSELOR: And superfund cleanup. Got it. But what shall we do with all the garbage garbage garbage garbage.
CALLER: Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
COUNSELOR: You’re very generous to offer, but–
CALLER: I lift my lamp
COUNSELOR: Shine on, you crazy diamond. But is it really your job to enlighten the world?
CALLER: beside the golden door!”
COUNSELOR: Oh, I get it–it’s a civil disobedience thing. We should send our trash to Dump Tower, like sending used tampons to Creepy Veep. I love it!
[click here to read the original by Emma Lazarus]