like a fifth-grader convinced
he can play cornet like Louis Armstrong
even though said fifth-grader
doesn’t look at a music book
can’t make his mouth form an embouchure
blows out a bunch of flat, air-filled notes
>
he wasn’t being sarcastic when he mused about
UV rays and bleach maybe doing for human insides
what they do for stovetops, tables and other surfaces
>
and then he realizes, lies and waves it away
and an until-now renowned scientist
follows him almost scarf-deep into the Big Muddy
complaining about how that mean old press
takes a what-if remark and chews on it like gum
for at least two news cycles
>
to the staff, to the attorneys worrying
about copycat behavior and poisonings,
and especially to the press and TV cameras,
the President says I take no responsibility
even though he was elected to the highest office
which requires a lot of responsibilities—
such as don’t kill your voters
if you’re intent on being re-elected
to riff again and again
without regard for consequences
