“Breaking News” by Jacob Erin-Cilberto

the president of pain
his country
one of cynicism
in crisis
sorrow's candidate elected
by a majority of tears

after a bevy of years
experience qualifies him for the job
he's been in and out of love politics
so many times
there is an asterisk by his name

in the form of a heart
his record questionable
his intuition corrupt
impeachment of emotions before a congress
of guilt,

he wakes up one day
wondering how he got in office
and why all the pictures that grace his desk
seem like a penance
to remind him

of his bad decisions.