Newspoem 25 November 2000: Clinton Does VietnamĀ 

The  slippery-thin
bard of the libido asks you to forget it.

A conflict you know
as “the American War” The slippery-thin

veneer of friendship covers the covering of A conflict you know

“I’m a happy man
He shook my hand. Twice.” So the veneer of friendship

is a repeated
and “mutual tragedy “I’m a happy man

photographed at the Temple of Literature is a repeated

description of war
as if it were a cyclone photographed at the
moment forest green-
clad police fought back the crowd: description of war

as “vivid symbols—”
He might as well have uttered, moment forest green-

His pale blue necktie
shimmering, bright fall sunshine, as “vivid symbols—”

like Vietnamese
bands bashing out the “Banner.”
His pale blue necktie

the economic equivalent of nature like Vietnamese

not allowed to ask
about new trade agreements, the economic

you to forget it.
Is trade inevitable? not allowed to ask

2000