They gave him a medal

They gave him a medal for his ideology

for the bile that laced every word

They gave him a medal for his own theology

and the poison that his vitriol stirred.

They gave him a medal though his ignorance showed

every time that he opened his mouth

They gave him a medal and he crowed and he crowed

from his plantation down in the South.

They gave him a medal, we all wondered why

when dignity couldn’t be found

They gave him a medal, as he told people to die

and turned his back as they lay on the ground.

They gave him a medal and made sure we observed

where the reasons were buried in mud

They gave him a medal, that others deserved

who gave their lives for their own flesh and blood.

They gave him a medal for no decent reason

just so some could recline in their power

They gave it for intellectual treason

to a man who trades lies by the hour.

They gave him a medal and he joked and he joked

while hyperbole laughed in our face

They gave him a medal just because he provoked

and poured scorn on the whole human race.

They gave him a medal, in fealty’s tirade

so in his mind, we would join in his game

They gave him a medal but his star will soon fade

and wither and die with his name.

© copyright – Stephen Newman 2020