Newspoem 10 February 2007

Obama Announces Candidacy

[This newspoet got up at six to shiver in seven degree weather on the lawn of the old state capitol building in Springfield, Illinois to hear Barack Obama announce his candidacy. Here is my report, transcribed from very shaky handwriting in my notebook.]

Moving on frozen feet back into sunlight,
the only warmth on me is tears
released by Obama's beautiful language.
Of all the crimes perpetrated by Bush,
his cronies, his puppeteers—war crimes,
international crimes, constitutional crimes,
crimes against human rights, the environment,
language, dignity—I am reminded that our president
has committed a crime against my heart. Underneath a
glacier of distrust is an ember. I still believe in the goodness
of the American people.