Congress in Recess

Reform, like
Zeno’s arrow,
never comes:
before the halfway measure
must come the quarter measure,
before that,
the hemi-demi-semi measure,
before that, the intention,
never mind the will.


Lacking the single push of empathy,
the bowstring is unreleased;
indeed, it was never pulled —
the fat hand, weighted
with golden rings,
the bribed wrist,
the obligated arm
the withered loins
Medusa-paralyzed.


Fear no arrows from this
sclerotic body.
Congress is in recess.
Congress has been in recess
for longer than anyone
can count.

2009, rev. 2019, again May 2019.