Jason
Lee Brown
teaches at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He has had poetry in Green
Hills Literary Lantern, Spoon
River Poetry Review, Margie
and
Pear; and creative nonfiction in the current issue of the Concho
River Review. His photography recently won an award from the Illinois
Press Association.
Jason Lee Brown
A Political Pardon
When the polls say
the people say
the politician must
publicly repent,
you will watch his interview
on the confessional box
with Sawyer or Walters.
His wife will hold hands, smile
and narrow her eyebrows
of compassion when necessary.
Soft-spoken apologies
must be heard, followed by
There’s no excuse
for what I’ve done.
I regret the pain
it’s caused my family.
Nothing like this
will ever happen again.
You must see his tears, on cue,
to complete the absolution,
the wife’s, too.
Even Mike Tyson cried.
The program over,
you will forgive
his imperfections
while commercials plug
sexual stimulants,
anti-depressants,
and upcoming reality shows.
You will exercise
your right not to vote.
