
This poem was inspired by a book review in the New York Times discussing former FBI director, James Comey’s, recent book about his experiences in government. It is told, with great artistic license, from the author’s point of view, not from my own.
Apostle of order,
Knight-errant at law,
I have writ here
My final epistle:
I find you repellant.
I find you unethical,
To all of Earth,
Antithetical.
You clamber the cherry
Tree, picking the facts.
Dissembling is now
The new normal.
Every day I count six
Falsities or mis-leadings
That spew from your
Pursed lips, infernal.
Inspired by a robber
Who held me at gunpoint
In childhood, I soon
Was a squire,
Tasked with keeping the stronger
From maiming the weaker,
I guard independence
With law.
I saw much to appall me,
A show, playing nightly:
The boredom of torture
And capture,
While campaigns were a-waging
And pols were engaging
In duels, such gore
Bringing rapture.
Still, a soldier for Truth,
I squandered my youth
At the Bureau,
The wardrobe of kings.
I shield law from politics,
Fairly try heretics,
Ploddingly,
Wait in the wings,
While you twist and you stretch it—
I can’t help but wretch—I
Recoil at the sight
Of such things.
Still, you speak to your circle,
So silent, assenting,
A mirror, deaf-blind
To all else.
They’re all longing to follow.
Your word is their mantra.
They insist that the rest
Must be false.
And now,
What would you have of me?
Some oath of loyalty?
Kissing the ring
And conspiring?
I despair at your arrogance,
Slouching towards wickedness,
Torches ablaze at
Assizes.
I would gladly, gladly,
Galloping gallantly,
Lop off your crown
For the prizes,
Were it not for the litany
Of my own wickedry:
Was it not I
Who baptized you?
Copyright 2018 Andrea LeDew
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