Each year (this week)
we take a day
to tip our caps
as if to say
how grateful
we have cause to be
for long-dead presidents.

For George and Abe
and Franklin D.
For JFK
and Harry T.
For Thomas, Ronald
and the rest
who did the best they could.

Some were quite bad
and some were great.
The needle bounced
from love to hate.
And still our nation
granted grace
to those who let us down.

No matter what,
in four short years,
there is a chance
to dry our tears.
But in the meantime
we’d do well
to pray for who’s in charge.