To further my poetry career,
I’m going into politics.

Imagine how many expensive
suits would pay good money
for a poem on demand
written by a big city mayor
or governor. They’d line
up for blocks with stacks
of cash offering words
like eminent domain,
deregulation and immunity.

And if I could get elected
president, the CEOs and lobbyists
would buy so many books
they’d need warehouses
to store the boxes.
I would visit stadiums
from Moscow to Jerusalem
packed with cheering citizens,
encouraged to attend my readings.

They might give me a wreath of laurels
but would I ever get an honest critique?