Poetry from Patricia Doyne (one of two)

WINE BOX DIRECTIONS

You press the perforated circle tab.

This is step 1. You have to do it first,

if you have hopes to satisfy your thirst.

Now, see the wings? With thumb and finger, grab—

and yank the wine sac’s tough, accordion spout.

rotate it till the hole’s 11 o’clock.

Now keep rotating clockwise. Seems to lock?

Then how can Cabernet come streaming out?

The wine box sits there, taunting me, and full,

despite directions that would ease my woes.

Easy-open spout? A load of bull!

Perhaps a pliers? Not a needle-nose.

No, just an ordinary grip. Now pull!

I’ll never taste this vintage, I suppose.

Copyright 11/2023 Patricia Doyne

ETHICS? SANTOS HAS NONE

Young Santos spends a lot on grooming aids:

Botox shots, Sephora creams, and such.

If he needs cash for splurges, he just raids

a slush fund. No one really cares, not much.

Identity theft? He’s stolen cards for years.

Drag queen Kitara? Ponzi schemes? Okay.

Outrageous lies don’t bother Santos’ peers—

they’ve all cut corners. Most have feet of clay.

But when House Ethics probe uncovered fraud—

diverting campaign funds to porn and clothes—

GOPs freaked out. Will donors nod,

and wonder where their money really goes?

Deep pockets are a campaigner’s lifeblood.

The Santos dirt leaves Congress smeared with mud.

SYNCHRONIZED CHAOS