Drain the Swump
Viewing comments for Chapter 3 "MAGA! MAGA! Build the Wall"Short satirical poems
8 total reviews
Comment from N.K. Wagner
Funny, Steve. I wonder how the NZ government would react to my just coming ashore on a beach somewhere and making myself at home without permission with, oh, a couple million of my closest friends. Think my new Kiwi neighbors would object? I would expect them to. Invasion is decidedly bad manners.
And just so you know, English was our grandparents' second language where I grew up. We love our country, and just as you have a lock on your door, we reserve the right to say who's welcome to come in and who isn't (and my godson is Mexican, so I don't want to hear about prejudice or racism. That's not who we are).
So, have your fun, but don't confuse political BS with reality.
Love ya! :) Nancy
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2019
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Funny, Steve. I wonder how the NZ government would react to my just coming ashore on a beach somewhere and making myself at home without permission with, oh, a couple million of my closest friends. Think my new Kiwi neighbors would object? I would expect them to. Invasion is decidedly bad manners.
And just so you know, English was our grandparents' second language where I grew up. We love our country, and just as you have a lock on your door, we reserve the right to say who's welcome to come in and who isn't (and my godson is Mexican, so I don't want to hear about prejudice or racism. That's not who we are).
So, have your fun, but don't confuse political BS with reality.
Love ya! :) Nancy
Comment Written 27-Jan-2019
reply by the author on 28-Jan-2019
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Hi, Nancy. Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you taking the time to review, even though we have to disagree on the politics expressed. I don't want to start an argument about it, but I just have to say that nobody wants to open the borders. No one is even suggesting that. But the wall is just a bad idea in so many ways.
Anyway, the poem is more about the crazy man in the White House, who simply needs to learn that the wall is fine as long as it remains a symbol for the security you all want, rather than an actual physical thing.
And don't worry, I recognize BS better than most and I know where most of it is coming from right now.
Thanks again.
Steve
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Oh, but, Steve, there are huge numbers of left wing US politicians demanding the abolishment of our borders. And free everything. It's not a workable plan for a successful country. Don't worry. We'll figure it out. Funny. These same politicians wanted a wall during the previous administration. It's all BS. :) Nancy
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Really? Total abolition of borders? No country does that!
Beware the extremes on both sides, I say. Sadly, in my opinion, that little Lego man fuels extremes, rather than bringing them towards the centre.
Comment from humpwhistle
Given a choice, I'd rather have Nixon.
What I find most disturbing is that I think I understand Trump. He sees himself playing defense. The Wall, the trade wars, the denial of climate change. It's all about defending his right to stay rich. Immigrants, trade deals, and ecological restrictions all threaten his lifestyle--or so he imagines. MAGA is just a slogan he's sold to gullible sycophants with chips on their shoulders. His real slogan should be DIME--Don't Impede My Earnings.
Honestly, it always hurts a little when I can't defend my government. This is a sad page.
Peace, Lee
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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Given a choice, I'd rather have Nixon.
What I find most disturbing is that I think I understand Trump. He sees himself playing defense. The Wall, the trade wars, the denial of climate change. It's all about defending his right to stay rich. Immigrants, trade deals, and ecological restrictions all threaten his lifestyle--or so he imagines. MAGA is just a slogan he's sold to gullible sycophants with chips on their shoulders. His real slogan should be DIME--Don't Impede My Earnings.
Honestly, it always hurts a little when I can't defend my government. This is a sad page.
Peace, Lee
Comment Written 22-Jan-2019
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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Thanks, Lee - and I'm sorry for keeping on beating this one. It must be VERY frustrating living with this and not having any control - well not until 2020.
Yes, he's a great sloganeer if nothing else.
Steve
Comment from Alcreator Litt Dear
MAGA is his slogan, and he will make it, so he is bordering the nation and sending all coloured immigrants out to hell; well said, well done. Keep Writing Inspire Changing -- DR ALCREATOR
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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MAGA is his slogan, and he will make it, so he is bordering the nation and sending all coloured immigrants out to hell; well said, well done. Keep Writing Inspire Changing -- DR ALCREATOR
Comment Written 22-Jan-2019
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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Thanks for the kind words.
Steve
Comment from Mark Valentine
I'm loving the series, particularly because it captures the mentality of the cheering crowds at Trump rallies. Sometimes satire only has to tweak reality at tiny bit to make its point. Virtually everything you say in your poem has been said by the whipped-up throngs of bigots that are Trump's base - simply by making it into a nursery-rhyme-like chant, you highlight its ridiculousness.
Well done!
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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I'm loving the series, particularly because it captures the mentality of the cheering crowds at Trump rallies. Sometimes satire only has to tweak reality at tiny bit to make its point. Virtually everything you say in your poem has been said by the whipped-up throngs of bigots that are Trump's base - simply by making it into a nursery-rhyme-like chant, you highlight its ridiculousness.
Well done!
Comment Written 22-Jan-2019
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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Thanks, Mark.
I was a little worried with this one that there might be some who took it seriously. I haven't received any 'Rah, Rah!' fan mail yet, though.
Steve
Comment from Miss Sherry
Kudos!! My thoughts exactly -let's be Narcissistic and send them off! Now government is shut down, some of us will be just like "them"...suffering and hungry, with no medical care. Boy that man in charge knows how to make us want his stupid wall. This is a great poem - rousing the rabble in me.
It is cute with its little lego man and lego wall...now, if only reality was that cute!
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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Kudos!! My thoughts exactly -let's be Narcissistic and send them off! Now government is shut down, some of us will be just like "them"...suffering and hungry, with no medical care. Boy that man in charge knows how to make us want his stupid wall. This is a great poem - rousing the rabble in me.
It is cute with its little lego man and lego wall...now, if only reality was that cute!
Comment Written 22-Jan-2019
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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Thanks, Sherry (or is it Wolfy?)
Next poem may focus on the shutdown - it's just getting ridiculous now and neither side prepared to budge.
Steve
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If we are friends, it is Sherry. This shutdown is messing up my foodstamps...taking milk from babies and in general screwing up the world.
Comment from LisaMay
Keep it coming! I love your satire; it is so accurate.
Not being a resident, I didn't immediately understand what MAGA referred to, but I found out. I also had to find out what "Huddled masses" referred to, but now I know... which adds to my understanding. I hope more Americans bother to be a bit more informed and compassionate. Blind faith in a leader being right is dangerous to democracy.
Correction: put a "t" in on the first word in the last line of 2nd last stanza.... "Put".
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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Keep it coming! I love your satire; it is so accurate.
Not being a resident, I didn't immediately understand what MAGA referred to, but I found out. I also had to find out what "Huddled masses" referred to, but now I know... which adds to my understanding. I hope more Americans bother to be a bit more informed and compassionate. Blind faith in a leader being right is dangerous to democracy.
Correction: put a "t" in on the first word in the last line of 2nd last stanza.... "Put".
Comment Written 22-Jan-2019
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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Thanks, Lisa and well done for googling 'huddled masses' There's a great story behind the poem and sad that Emma Lazarus didn't live to see it inscribed on the statue - what an honour!
Thanks for the sharp eye too. I changed 'put' to 'throw' anyway!
Steve
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Poets don't get enough recognition, so yes, it was indeed a pity that E.L. didn't see her work honored in that way.
I read your poem again and Throw is a much better addition... aggressive and violent to suit the verbal delivery.
Comment from RodG
I can almost hear Stephen Colbert shouting out your lyrics in one of his monologues. This is definitely his kind of political satire. There are too many, unfortunately, who will take these words seriously.
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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I can almost hear Stephen Colbert shouting out your lyrics in one of his monologues. This is definitely his kind of political satire. There are too many, unfortunately, who will take these words seriously.
Comment Written 21-Jan-2019
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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Thanks, Rod.
Thankfully, if anyone took them seriously here, they didn't bother to respond, although several years ago I did lose a friend and frequent reviewer when she took very seriously something that was intended as satire.
Steve
Comment from Janice Canerdy
Your poem is excellent--well-written in every respect--message, form,
creativity. I feel deeply sorry for those desperate people. I wonder, though,
how many of the people against the wall have offered to allow some of them to move in with them until the matter is resolved. There may be MANY who have done
this. I need to find out.
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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Your poem is excellent--well-written in every respect--message, form,
creativity. I feel deeply sorry for those desperate people. I wonder, though,
how many of the people against the wall have offered to allow some of them to move in with them until the matter is resolved. There may be MANY who have done
this. I need to find out.
Comment Written 21-Jan-2019
reply by the author on 22-Jan-2019
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Thanks, Janice.
I am strongly opposed to pretty much everything Trump does, but the Democrats could certainly handle things better themselves and not get drawn into petty squabbles.
Steve
