Classic Poem

The indomitable Yankee
cactus
Calvin Coolidge
used to be afraid
his most careful
nothings
would be miscon-
strued.
His lips were sealed
tighter
than an old man's
scrotum
backing up from
winter water
When he looked
the nation
straight in the eye
nobody
but nobody
had any question
that if cornered
he would not
hesitate to retreat
even from
his own spittin' image.