How many ears hear those words?
Number the brains that nurse them.  
How many wheels turn in America
imagining the logistics?                                   
                                                         Not
a blood squib slap at the ear*                    
                                                         Not
a stage-managed dash
by a shotgun-wielding
selfie-taking fool with 4 large knives*  

but real Americans blinking, thinking,
would-be or let-it-be-someone-else
patriotic perps
wish-fulfilling trigger-persons**
red hats praying for divine intervention.***  

What a sick feeling in the pit of our stomachs
to be trapped in a cage fight not of our choosing.  

Even during the national anthem, we boo.****      

*according to a NewsGuard Reality Check poll Reported 5/11/26, 24% of Americans believe both the Butler PA  and the White House Correspondent’s Dinner assassination attempt on Donald Trump were staged.  

** a Manhattan Institute poll taken shortly after the Butler PA attempt found 1/3 of Americans wished the attempt had succeeded;  

*** Business Insider 1/31/23 reported former GOP Rep. Peter Meijer says “a lot” of MAGA Republicans hope Trump dies  

**** 6/8/26 Game 3 of the NBA finals, New Yorkers booed when Trump’s face was displayed on the Jumbotron during the pre-game national anthem