Kerry At The Bat

copyleft November 2004 copyright

by Zbignew Zingh

(with apologies to Ernest L. Thayer who wrote “Casey at the Bat”)

* *

The outlook wasn't brilliant

for the Democrats this year,

The Supreme Court stood five to four

and voters lived in Fear.

And then when Howard lost the race

and Dennis did the same,

A pall-like silence fell upon progressives

in the game.

A straggling few

got up to go in deep despair.

The rest

Clung to that hope which springs eternal in the human breast.

They thought, “if only Kerry

could but get a whack at that.

We'd put up tons of money now,

with Kerry at the bat.”

But Bush just taunted Kerry,

as did also the V.P.;

about his Senate Vote for War

and blue blood pedigree.

So upon that stricken multitude,

grim melancholy sat;

for there seemed but little chance of

Kerry getting to the bat.

But lefties registered a bunch,

to the wonderment of all.

And progressives,

the much despised, tore the cover off the ball.

And when the dust had lifted,

and men saw what had occurred,

there were the Ds still in second place,

Ralph Nader hugging third.

Then from ten million Democrats

there came a final push;

they swore, by God,

they'd win this one with

Anyone But Bush.

They pounded through the mountain states

and campaigned in the flat;

for Kerry, mighty Kerry,

was advancing to the bat.

There was ease in Kerry's manner

as he stepped into the race;

there was pride in Kerry's bearing

and a smile lit Kerry's face.

And when, responding to the cheers,

he brushed off all dissent,

he caged the mob in “free speech zones”

just like the president.

America's eyes were on him

as he campaigned very calm.

Yet, no one understood just why

he focused on Viet Nam.

Then while the sleazy W

threw spitballs, mud and jeers,

defiance flashed in Kerry's eye,

his mouth turned to a sneer.

And now the scandals of Iraq

and every lie lay bare,

but Kerry stood a-watching them

in haughty grandeur there.

Close by the sturdy batsman

the War unheeded sped --

“That ain't my style,”

said Kerry.

“Strike one!” the Media said.

From the benches, black with Democrats,

there went up a muffled roar,

like bombs dropping on Baghdad,

that stern and distant shore.

“Kill them! Kill the media!”

shouted someone in the stand,

and it's likely they'd have killed them

had not Kerry raised his hand.

With a neo-liberal smile,

great Kerry's visage shone,

he stilled the rising tumult,

he bade the game go on.

He signaled to G.W.,

voter suppression grew,

but Kerry still ignored it,

and the Media said “Strike Two.”

“Fraud!” cried the maddened millions,

the polls are skewed by fraud!

But one scornful look from Kerry

and the Democrats were awed.

They saw his face grow stern and cold,

they saw him campaign more,

and they knew that Mr. Kerry

wouldn't roll over like Gore.

The sneer has fled from Kerry's lip,

no one will he discount.

He swears to each and everyone,

each voter's vote will count!

And now America holds the vote,

and now the campaign's done,

but voting by computer,

no one knows who really won!

Oh, somewhere in the Bible Belt

the sun is shining bright.

Fox Television plays somewhere,

and somewhere hearts are light.

And, somewhere Wall Street's laughing,

the wealthy leap and shout,

but there is no joy for Democrats -- John Kerry has struck out.

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