Andrew K. Peterson
Call Script
Hello Senator,
Piercing and apportioned
Below the lazing drones we summer
In the consequence of keeping
Full charge with the real Reality
Winner. Senator, dinosaurs are somewhere
Rooting for us, —the fables of Faubus,
Foibles of gooble gobble—
Bird-ghost bodies & bone maps,
Some pleasanter moments in the century of
CSPAN community access.
No one’s in charge, Senator, the situation’s
The boss. If you do not ring the bell
and no one’s on the platform this train
Can’t stop won’t stop. Theeese eyes, aaaare crying,
Senator. These eyes have seen a lot of loves but
They’re never gonna see another one like I
Had with you, Senator. Only love’s infinite
Divisions and finite indivisibles remain, a minor
Limit in ancient imitation of democracy. If only
I could live off the ice cream money,
Safe and insured, unshaven and couth.
Theeese yeses, I shall not wait to hang upon
The count of your crook and starry vote, Senator.
I shall raise the black flag, and burn in white,
Unplug me but from rainbow watts and nettles.
Bank balance on sea snails to lay their eggs in moonlight,
Unsheathe this trusty conch and uncork its wild pitches to
Signal a flask of mermaid senators to swim ruggedly ashore.
Author’s Note: This poem was my call script for messages I left on the Washington office voicemails of Republican Senators Susan Collins, Dean Heller, and Rand Paul in advance of Affordable Health Care Appeal vote while standing at the edge of Cambridge’s Annual Citywide Dancy Party on June 30, 2017.
Andrew K. Peterson is the author of The Big Game Is Every Night (Locofo Chaps, 2017), Anonymous Bouquet (Spuyten Duyvil, 2015), and bonjour meriwether and the rabid maps (Fact-Simile, 2011). His work appears in Emergency Index 2012 (Ugly Duckling Presse) and has been featured in museum exhibits and performance projects. He edits the online literary journal summer stock and lives in Boston.
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