Martin Steingesser

February 12, 2003

The White House cancelled a poetry symposium
after learning some invited poets might read poems
opposing the President’s plans for war against Iraq.
 

Let’s take off our clothes today

and do the light fantastic, a little dance

to the White House. Come on, join arms,

no clothes on, hit the road, one foot up,

one foot down, for Lincoln’s birthday

and the poetry reading the First Lady planned.

Let’s stretch-limo in our altogether decent

birthday suits to deliver the word -- Truth

is naked and beauty is truth. What d’you know --

that’s all we need to wear! Let’s go.