poems 2 rock your soul by Mitt Romney

do you know what it feels like
to win something
but feel like you’re
losing something?
it’s probably kind of
like working as hard
as you can at something
and succeeding
by all reasonable
metrical analyses
but for some reason
still getting
fired

the receiving line
stretches around
the hotel ballroom
a winding snake
of supporters
waiting to shake
hands with me and
connect with me

and one by one
they say hello to
me and there is
small talk and perhaps
a back slap and

it occurs to me that
my desire to be president
can be felt in my
perineum

and
“why don’t we
have our picture
taken?” i say
(my usual
laugh line)
“…just in
case i win.”

and the laughter,
while forced,
washes over me
like a tidal wave

it was daybreak in
salt lake and i
reached for my
hairbrush
and

looking in the
mirror it occurred
to me that i
was wearing a
white button-down

medium starch

and just as i
had this thought i
looked down at
a framed family
photo sitting near the
vanity
and everyone
was wearing
white
button
downs,
medium
starch
and i smiled
and my teeth
were white
too