“Impeachment Trial”

c. 2020 Rod Ice 

All rights reserved 

(1-20) 

Impeachment trial 

Longer run by a mile 

Drinking beer in early morning 

No siren for warning 

I sit in my chair 

Beholding the beasts 

Of these I am the least 

A conflict of politics 

Run to the light 

Long into this good night 

America is sleeping 

On this decision of champions 

Locked in battle to be won 

By the best of our tribe 

Above the muck, we rise 

To educate 

To pontificate 

Timeless, enduring 

Long-suffering all 

Let the gavel fall 

Build no wall 

Chief Justice 

Sits as the arbiter 

Of wrath incurred 

By factions set 

An experience we won’t forget 

Let me catch my breath 

And begin again 

Hear me, friends 

Wee hours begin 

In tradition we trust 

This republic 

We are us 

Names called from the roll 

Johnson, Nixon Clinton 

And the spray-tan troll 

Anti-heroes 

Anti-matter 

in the chamber reactive 

Stray bits of matter 

Stained in their existence 

A lean across the fence 

Rewarded with electric shock 

The senators in their socks 

Creeping into darkness 

The exercise is a success 

A trip for the mind 

Leaving history behind 

Keening over hope lost 

Over the cost 

An acrid flow 

For those in the know 

Impeachment 

An action of government 

A trial on TV 

Ratings to read 

To the victor goes reward 

A mini-series on board 

Plugged in for broadcast 

This won’t be the last 

High drama in D.C. 

Like Max Headroom 

Jitterbugging on the screen 

Im-peach 

Sweet tea 

Overreached 

Peachy I feel peachy 

The House has spoken 

For you and me 

Voices raised in judgment 

Articles to the Senate 

The constitution to defend 

Believe me, friend 

This is what democracy looks like 

Going long into the night 

No sailor’s delight 

Steering a partisan ship 

Into waves that flip 

One side to the other 

Believe me, brother 

This is the best 

We have to give, the acid test 

The strike for gain 

Overrules motions of the brain 

Studious foes 

Battle in their Sunday clothes 

Ritualistic procedure prancing 

Like they are dancing 

Twist and spin 

Schumer has an objection 

McConnell shakes his head 

We watch in his stead 

With Doritos and beer 

America 

America, we fear 

The sunset of a grand community 

The fade of those 

Who believe 

Where do we go, then At 1:30 a.m.? 

To our beds, with gratitude 

Respite 

Rest 

A recharge for the cellphone 

Coming home 

For weary bones 

The state of our nation is sound 

We’ll march to midnight 

High-step on hallowed ground 

And repeat the fete 

Tomorrow on Main Street 

Who cares? Who is aware? 

The nation draws a deep breath 

As we navigate our fate 

Sailing on to the dawn 

The antidote to endless night 

Schiff and Schumer 

Shaken, not stirred 

The final word 

A blot on the ballot 

Opinion, undeterred 

This process will go on 

A diva dance 

With Amazons 

For prizes to be won 

Rancor, are you done? 

Yet in the end 

The nation-state 

We defend 

With votes in November 

A mission bell 

Sounded in alarm 

To keep us from harm 

Kick kick kick 

In the air 

Listen to the souls that care 

This impeachment ride 

This surf at high tide 

Is a grand gesture given 

For democracy’s friends 

Yet we have reached the end 

Say it again 

End this fight 

Fatigue yields delight 

Turn off the light 

Good night!