Campaign 2000 Sestina

 

 

Can Bill Clinton’s presumptive heir, Al Gore,

Re-claim the likely successor’s mantle from Bush,

Who ran poorly in New Hampshire, and beat Bradley

And that other campaign reformer McCain,

Beneficiary of Bush-trimmer Forbes

And Bush-burning firebrand Keyes?

 

Now these survivors beating every bush

For voters, spread across the country: Bradley

And Gore take aim at Super Tuesday, McCain

Swamps the leader in Carolina, Forbes

Dips again into his wealth for keys

To victory, skirting a loser’s gore.

 

Athletes, the affluent and Wall Street like Bradley

So the pundits say, but will he cane

Gore with campaign abuse, half-truths and forbes

Bill’s ghost on him or will the rhythmic keys

Of Big D influence play Glory for Gore

Leaving Bradley disconsolate in the bush?

 

How far can he go, that fleet challenger McCain

Using calls to duty instead of Forbes-

Like wealth to woo voters to hand him precious keys

To our country’s future, and can he vanquish Gore

Better than Establishment-crowned Bush

Or beat ex-hoopster, Rhodes scholar Senator Bradley?

 

How much will he spend, bespectacled publisher Forbes,

Before the gauge on his bank account unkeys

His effort; How long will Alan Keyes gore

Moderate sensibilities and keep Bush

Right of center, far distant from liberal Bradley

And partially veil abortion for McCain?

 

All candidates attempt to strike the right Keyes

With finicky electorates Gore

Go home wounded by a voter amBush;

So defend your base then grow Bradley

Until a majority of votes you Cain

Claim, from such is electoral victory Forbes.

 

o/o/o/o/o/o/o\o\o\o\o\o\o

 

Forbes had money in bank; Alan rhetorical Keyes

Bradley thoughtful bent; W. legacy of Bush

McCain is crafting a rush, aiming to thwart Al Gore

 

 

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