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Home Poetry Beauty

‘The Return of Trump’: A Poem by Evan Mantyk

July 15, 2024
in Beauty, Culture, Poetry
A A
32

.

The Return of Trump

No matter how you try to stop Don Trump
__He always will come back.
__He’ll lie in wait then jump
__In tiger-like attack.

You put him in a box that’s wrapped in chains
__And throw him in the sea,
__And yet despite your pains
__You find “He’s next to me!”

His arms are workers by the tens of millions,
__His hair is growing wheat,
__His tongue is Truth’s fierce minion,
__Coal miners are his feet,

So even if you cut deep in his skin
__With empty cackling lies,
__One day he’ll rise and win
__Just as an eagle flies.

.

.

Evan Mantyk teaches literature and history in New York and is Editor of the Society of Classical Poets.

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Comments 32

  1. Margaret Coats says:
    3 years ago

    Evan, I very much like your characterization twists here. First the tiger-like fighter, then the escape artist, then identification with the people and even the land: its workers, coal miners, and growing wheat. Finally, the national symbol of the eagle. Indeed, “he’s next to me” anywhere.

    Reply
    • Evan Mantyk says:
      3 years ago

      Thank you, Margaret! I wrote this while listening to Mozart’s No. 5 violin concerto so a bit of that fun Mozart spirit came through the variety of metaphors:

      The concerto:
      https://www.ganjing.com/video/1d987dk28009w9VfLl5U3HkgX1lh1c

      Reply
  2. Cynthia Erlandson says:
    3 years ago

    I agree with Margaret; the comparisons you make to describe the man are truly imaginative (and imaginatively true!) I hope your implied prediction comes true!

    Reply
    • Evan Mantyk says:
      3 years ago

      Thanks, Cynthia! Ultimately, the way I see it, Trump represents the idea of fearlessly getting back to plain decency and common sense. THAT will win, though I dread the closing scene for the villains; they are legion.

      Reply
  3. James Sale says:
    3 years ago

    Love the rhyme millions/minion, Evan! I am not sure what is going to happen in the States as I am not sufficiently well-informed, but I am disappointed to report that I have fallen out of love with our own blond bombshell aka Boris Johnson, who failed to deliver the Conservative agenda in the UK. Indeed, having voted for Lizz Truss in the election – as a member of the party – I have now resigned my membership in utter disgust as the globalists have now taken control. Still, America has a punchier sense of democracy than we Brits do – let’s hope true democracy prevails on your side of the pond.

    Reply
    • Damian Robin says:
      3 years ago

      The BBC – and other UK media outlets – still preface any talk of Trump’s or others’ drawing to attention the awkward reality of the last US Presidency election voting irregularities with words like ‘unfounded’ or ‘discredited’ or ‘disproved’.

      They also say – even before discussion – that conservative judges or members of his own administration rejected his claims of foul play.
      I thought his Vice President dropped the hot potato for pragmatic reasons, not because they were not legitimate.

      In the past Trump put forward some masculine views rather gauchely. This, too, has garnered disapproval in the UK. And photos of Trump with Jeffery Epstein still resonate after British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was recently sentenced to 20 years for sex offences. She was a close associate of Epstein’s.

      But still Trump stands strong. And, at a pinch, is like a cat with many lives
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJl_4IsQJ2g
      (7 min, very indirectly related, vid)

      Reply
      • Mike Bryant says:
        3 years ago

        Damian, there are many pictures of Epstein with many of the rich and powerful. Speaking of Ghislane… isn’t it odd that she has been convicted of selling sex, but they identified only ONE of Ghislane’s and Epstein’s clients? Prince Andrew… I think he was set up… funny thing is, a 17-yr-old little tart is considered a child only in the USA… no crime at all in the UK.
        IF Prince Andrew had decided to neuter thousands of minors in the USA with sex change drugs and surgical procedures, he would be hailed as a hero!

        Reply
      • Mike Bryant says:
        3 years ago

        Damian… the video is hilarious… when Susan and I started watching it, I thought we would switch it off before the end. However, it was just too weirdly compelling… we’re both glad we saw the whole thing, kinda sorta… VERY INDIRECTLY related.

        Reply
    • Patricia Redfern says:
      3 years ago

      My dear James,
      US citizens are treated breakfast, lunch and dinners,
      with news served on Hate Trump plates. I don’t even know the vast number of channels spewing venomous tales as fast as they can. Only Newsmax is Conservative, as Rupert Murdoch turned against Trump and true Conservatives 20 years ago! Yet they think FOX is the be all and end all. Trump is blamed for inflation,the border, crime, racism. You name it! I think I live in Nazi Germany. As propoganda, has people by the throat. They buy it all!
      The latest insult was beyond the pale!! They want to try Trump for trying to murder his Vice President,?
      They have gone mad. The US House and Senate is not a court of law. Just ninnies drunk on their own power. Censorship for the right is huge here! The vox populi in love with a senile President who loves China and the repression of the human race. All are doing their best to stop Trump from a second run.
      Worse~ the Left has far more money and blind followers.. am sureMark Steyn has more sense!
      Best to you, Patricia

      Reply
  4. Mike Bryant says:
    3 years ago

    About President Trump… he named three justices to the Supreme Court, he cowed North Korea, he called out China for their bloody persecution of the Falun Gong, he made our NATO partners pony up their fair share, he made the USA self sufficient in oil, he created so many jobs that the minority unemployment rate was the lowest ever, he made deals with Mexico that got our Southern border under control… I could go on and on…
    He also made mistakes… usually because he trusted the wrong people. His biggest mistake? He posted too many mean tweets.
    Right now, the one worlders have decided that it is the optimum time to get rid of President Trump once and for all…
    Your poem, Evan, says it all. Don’t ever count President Trump out.

    Reply
    • Shaun C. Duncan says:
      3 years ago

      Whether he intended to or not, Donald Trump, simply by eliciting the reaction he did from the ruling class, has done more than anyone in at least a century to show us how our world is run. This is a historically significant accomplishment regardless of anything else he might have achieved or whether he wins a second term or not.

      Reply
  5. Joseph S. Salemi says:
    3 years ago

    Trump comes from Queens County in NYC, my own breeding ground. He did all that Mike Bryant mentions and more — with the gutsy, I don’t-give-a-damn attitude that marks this part of Noo Yawk.

    One really great accomplishment of Trump: he broke the back of Clintonism, and he smashed the political career of that evil bitch on wheels, Hillary.

    Reply
    • Patricia Redfern says:
      3 years ago

      Joseph,
      Love your honesty, which seems to be as precious as the Hope diamond. You clear the air….fast!!
      Hillary is preparing a gym for her great comeback.
      Millions know she is a liar, and in a class with that faux- humanoid, Hunter Biden. This election cycle will be like the Inquisition, including the rack or burning Trump at the stake. Americans in love with mandates and no freedom. And one lying- arsed press! Patricia

      Patricia

      Reply
  6. C.B. Anderson says:
    3 years ago

    I would welcome the return of Trump, Evan, but first we need to welcome the return of fairly-counted honest elections, and it looks like, once again, we did not get that in 2022.

    Reply
    • Patricia Redfern says:
      3 years ago

      Hello! The GOP is napping, as Matt Schlapp said. The Democrats get out early and vote. We stopped reinterring peoplelije we used to. I don’t doubt the dishonesty in either party. I saw it firsthand at Young Republicans! I was so crushed…..that desire to win casts all morals to the side. CB.? Pence is painted as a saint? We need a strong ground game!
      Now we have the House, yes? And will lose the Speakership as dweebs want to tight over who will be speaker!oh, Lord.

      Reply
  7. Theresa Dould Cummings says:
    3 years ago

    not however, mmuch likeas an Eagle but rather an albatross arround one’s neck; just one woman’s opinion.

    Reply
    • C.B. Anderson says:
      3 years ago

      I won’t tell you to go to hell, Theresa, because you are already there.

      Reply
  8. Talbot says:
    3 years ago

    “He’ll lie in filth then loosely slump
    Like a portly, sickened yak.”

    (And this comes *not* from a hyper-progressive leftist or a Biden-worshipper, just from someone who condemns Trump.)

    Reply
    • Mike Bryant says:
      3 years ago

      He’ll lie in filth then loosely slump

      Like a portly, sickened yak.
      He’ll drain swamp filth, will MAGA TRUMP…
      The real President is BACK!

      Reply
      • Talbot says:
        3 years ago

        This is fun.

        “He’ll join the swamp filth, cell for cell,
        And rise again with boggy smell.
        Coagulating fenny dope,
        Again he squelches contra hope.”

        Reply
    • Mike Bryant says:
      3 years ago

      Coagulating fenny dope,
      Again he squelches contra hope.
      Xi scolds Joe for son Hunter’s sins
      But knows because of Joe, Xi WINS!

      Reply
      • Talbot says:
        3 years ago

        I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but, to be fair, we’re in rather a stalemate with China politically. There just aren’t that many levers to pull these days. The meeting wasn’t “for” anything; as the Chinese say, it’s just “空话连篇” — long-winded, empty talk (like much CCP drivel). And, to continue the game:

        “And as Trump snuggled up to Xi,
        He whispered ‘you’re *my* king’ with glee.”

        Reply
        • Mike Bryant says:
          3 years ago

          This is Trump “snuggling” according to Newsweek a globalist rag:

          https://www.newsweek.com/trump-sanction-china-over-human-rights-violations-muslim-group-1511610

          Reply
    • Evan Mantyk says:
      3 years ago

      Dear Talbot, I have many connections to Chinese human rights advocates, both past and present, and I can say with certainty that President Trump was a boon for Chinese human rights. Trump called such advocates into the White House and shook hands with him. The significance of this is huge and unprecedented. Obama and Biden have not done this: https://www.theepochtimes.com/trump-meets-with-falun-gong-practitioner-other-survivors-of-religious-persecution_3006607.html

      President Trump was a leader in taking on the Chinese Communist Party in terms of trade and human rights. This was one of his defining characteristics and required tremendous bravery, which he displayed in spades. Biden, world leaders, and governments have followed his lead out of political necessity and watered it down as far as I can tell. Trump had the attitude of making friends with Xi and the Chinese people at the same time, which is normal unless you are preparing for war with someone (as in Biden-Putin). It is the real actions and policies of the CCP that matter, not individual friendships. In the larger actual relationship, President Trump did what really mattered. My hat will be forever off to him.

      Reply
  9. Russel Winick says:
    3 years ago

    Evan – I love the form, meter, and rhyme of this poem. It’s an example of how much I learn from this top-notch poetry site. Thank you!

    Reply
  10. Shaun C. Duncan says:
    3 years ago

    Nice poem, Evan. It amazes me to see the media trot out the same tired narrative about DJT – his political career must’ve died more times than Bitcoin at this point. I wonder about his chances of re-election though and I can’t help think that it simply will not be allowed to happen, one way or another. It seems incredibly misguided though because even if they could dispose of Trump, his supporters aren’t going anywhere and the global populist movement only seems to be growing.

    Reply
  11. Sally Cook says:
    3 years ago

    Dear Evan –

    Your poem has the rapier sharpness of an Eagle’s claw, and the clarity of his vision. As I said somewhere else today, dreams matter far more than any manufactured response. I believe in dreams, as they come from rhe human spirit. which Donald Trump protects.

    Reply
    • Monika Cooper says:
      3 years ago

      I agree. Trump is a dreamer and a protector of dreams, who always deals in realities.

      Reply
  12. Jim Walters says:
    3 years ago

    This is the first poetry site that didn’t put me to sleep by the Woke. Think I’ll like it here.

    Trump is an enigma to me – a somewhat mad genius that bears all the characteristics of a tyrant that uses his skills for the betterment of his subjects.
    No wonder the left hates him, he keeps tossing a wrench into their Marxist fantasy.

    Reply
  13. Monika Cooper says:
    3 years ago

    His hair *is* growing wheat. Hey, the similes in the Song of Solomon have a grotesque character too — and not just the first time you read them. And, yes, his tongue *is* Truth’s fierce minion. Subject to a Higher Authority. Not just power: authority. The demons swarm earthly power but they tremble before authority.

    Reply
  14. Roy Eugene Peterson says:
    3 years ago

    Wonderful summation of the doggedness of Donald Trump along with those of us who continue to support him. Trump tramples the elites and raises those with moral values! Superb insightful poem with reflective imagery such as “wheat hair” and flying like an eagle.

    Reply
  15. Frank D Mantyk Jr says:
    2 years ago

    Thank you for putting the truth in todays literature

    Reply

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