Comment from Ulla

Excellent

Steve, I couldn't agree with you more. As this site so leans on religion why should it be opposed to a political leaning? In a democracy you can express your views? Or have I misunderstood something here? I loved your poem. Please don't vote for that idiot. Ulla;)))

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Thanks, Ulla. I don't get to vote in this, not being from the US. I do have strong feelings about Trump so if I could I would certainly be voting for Harris.
I have a feeling that the site doesn't like to reward strongly political posts.

Steve

Comment from barbara.wilkey

Excellent

Please say what you really think in this rhyming contest entry. My view of politicians is if they weren't trash, they'd have real jobs. Thank you for sharing this entry with us and good luck with the contest.

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Thanks, Barbara. Yep, I won't be shy saying what I think about this man. Actually I pulled a few punches here, my real thoughts would have needed a strong warning.

Steve

Comment from Sue Smith

Exceptional

Love this. It just romps along, the rhymes are perfect and the rhythm never falters. Whether or not you agree with the sentiments you have to agree this is a very well constructed poem. Really refreshing and made me smile

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Sue, many thanks for the kind words and the extra star. I smiled myself as I wrote this and oh, i wish I could have written more and stronger!

Steve

Comment from Begin Again

Excellent

Marvelous! I don't like to voice my opinions concerning politics. Still, this coming election is terrifying me - especially when people close to me are saying that Trump can do more because of his power. His power will take our freedoms away, and his crudest will put our flag and what it stands for in the toilet.

I noticed you commented on the final line (and I know nothing about poetry), but maybe you could add, "And Kamala promises his doom!"

There can be no intelligent explanation for why he continues to have such a following... his chauvinistic ways trample American women. Wake up America before it's too late.

Smiles and hugs,
Carol

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Hi, Carol.
I'm not American, but I share some of your feelings about the danger Trump presents. My fervent hope is that common sense will prevail and the American people will simply refuse to put this wannabe dictator back in a position of power.

Steve

Comment from Jacob1395

Excellent

I couldn't believe the comments Trump made about migrants eating dogs and cats in Springfield this week, it seems to me he's clutching at straws by making up stories. An excellent, entertaining piece. Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Thanks, Jacob. I could/should have written another verse or two but I ran out of time! Cats, dogs and tilting at windmills may all creep into a longer version!

Steve

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Excellent

This is an amusing poem and it made me smile and everyone makes fun of Trump and I have a feeling he will win the election, we will see. I enjoyed your sarcastic and humorous poem Steve, love Dolly x

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Thanks, Dolly. I sincerely hope you are wrong. In my humble opinion he is a deeply disturbed and seriously dangerous man.
Peace.
Steve

Comment from lyenochka

Excellent

No, the last line is not right - Kamala promises us hope.
I cannot understand why some evangelical Christians continue to support this awful man. Some "cultists" as you named them, created some bizarre prophecies about him being some kind of messiah. This is pure idolatry and they should see it as such!
Pray for us, Steve! We cannot survive another four years of his childish tantrums.
I'd wish you good luck in the contest but I bet the committee has to shy away from political pieces. If you haven't read them already, I'm sure you would enjoy Trumpty Dumpty and other books by John Lithgow. Your poems are just as good but he has name recognition.
Unfortunately, name recognition is what got the previous president into office the first time.

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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 13-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Thanks, Helen.
I've added a note about that last line to make it crystal clear that Kamala is bringing Trump's doom.
I don't pray, but I will certainly be having my fingers crossed from now until November 5th - and possibly after that as well!
Trump and everything he says and does would be immensely funny if he wasn't so dangerous and the consequences for the country so terrible if he were to get back into the White House. I've been saying for a long time that the real people of America are too sensible to make that mistake again and I still strongly believe that, especially since Harris has done so brilliantly!
Steve

reply by lyenochka on 13-Sep-2024

I agree. This is where it would help if you prayed, then I would say Amen and we'd be agreeing in prayer. It's powerful stuff! 😊

Comment from tfawcus

Exceptional

Marvellous poem employing the galloping anapaest to perfection. Political satire has a long and noble lineage, and your addition is a delight. Your clever rhyming gave me a good chuckle. I have friends in America who would be tickled by the content if you'd be happy to allow me to share it.

 Comment Written 12-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Thanks, Tony. I do respect your judgement. I've had a few lines of this floating round in my head for months and finally managed to get it into some sort of completed shape.

And yes, I'm perfectly happy for you to share this far and wide. I've put it on Facebook and Twitter but my reach doesn't extend far enough.

Steve

Comment from bob cullen

Exceptional

This truly deserves a ten. Its rhyme is immaculate, its alliteration is awesome and its truth undeniable. And if Bo Derek rated ten, this must be at least a twelve.
I've not read a better poem than this in years. It flows delightfully with wit, wisdom and large doses of warmth and leaves the reader with the responsibility of choosing the better path to tomorrow.
Not an easy choice. Good luck, America.

 Comment Written 12-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

Bob, thank you for the very kind words and the extra star - much appreciated.
I'm not American of course and I'm sure some here resent my sticking my nose in, but I'm old enough and wise enough to be very scared about the consequences of another term for Trump.

Steve

Comment from Patrick Bernardy

Excellent

Hello!

Yes! This! Your lines are hilarious and sonorous. You have internal rhyme and alliteration and clever word-play all over the place. Excellent job!

---"cultists" --Haha!
---I did need to point out that it's not "jives" but "jibes." Almost everyone gets this one wrong. I'm afraid if you change it, though, it will mess up your perfect rhyming pair with "wives." Just letting you know in case you want to fix it.
---"These words should have ended the questiion." --There is an extra "i" in question.

Great job! I make no commentary about the subject matter more than I already did. Because I don't have to. Do you really think if I didn't agree wholeheartedly I would bother to review it? Thanks for this!

Patrick

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 Comment Written 12-Sep-2024

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reply by the author on 12-Sep-2024

Patrick, many thanks for your excellent review and your suggested agreement with the content of my poem. To be frank, I don't expect this to be well-received by the judges. Perhaps there is a quite agreement amongst them not to reward overtly political posts.

I had already discovered and fixed the typo in 'question' and one other extra apostrophe moments before I received your review. As to jive versus jibe, I believe you make a sound point but a check of Merriam Webster gives me this encouragement:
"The use of jive as a variant of jibe seems to have increased each decade since the 1940s, and may often be found in reputable and edited sources today."

In other words the mistake is now so common that it is acceptable. It will be interesting to see whether any other reviewers comment on it.

Again, thanks for the kind words. One thumb coming your way. And good luck for November!

Steve

reply by Patrick Bernardy on 13-Sep-2024

Hey Steve! Yes, you have won me over to your side concerning the "jibe" versus "jive" question. I have seen "jive" used so many times that what you explained makes perfect sense! At this point, as a diligent grammarian, I have now officially removed that from the attention of my "red pen!" As for the politics, I do my best to keep my social media outlets politics free. I learned my lesson in 2020. But I will say that I am a empathetic human being who loves everyone --- except that man. He is a disgrace to the human race, attempting to tear down what so many intelligent and courageous men and woman have taken more than two hundred years to create ... the last, best hope for the world: American democracy. I am not a religious person at all, but I will pray to whatever force for good--whether it be Jesus, Allah, Buddha, or the justice of karma--that November banishes him from politcs forever.

Okay, wow. I must have been constipated with that. Anyway, no more political talk from me. I wish us all -- the entire human race -- the best of luck in November.😉

Patrick

reply by the author on 13-Sep-2024

I live in New Zealand so most folks would say I have no valid reason to be poling my nose into US politics, but the emergence of Trump and the shocking amount of support he retains in the face of his egregious words and behaviour almost forces me to sit up and pay attention. I sincerely believe he is not just a danger to your country but also to the whole world. We may be isolated way down here, but we're not immune to global shocks.
I'm also not religious so no praying, but my fingers will be firmly crossed. I have long predicted that common sense will prevail and the fever will break. I still believe that but it's taking longer than it should.
Cheers
Steve