The Gelded Age
(From The Triumph of Strife: an homage to Dante Alighieri and Percy Shelley)

The tiny Texas tyro’s tantrums taint
What once our country held in wise reserve
Into a corner he proceeds to paint

The nation’s laws he idly swore to serve
Which leaves them less than merely empty noise
Precocious playthings pious pimps preserve

To feather friendly nests requires such ploys
As ex-post-facto, one-time-only laws
What Gelded Age has known such jaded joys?

Like signing statutes stuffed with special flaws
Designed by thieves to make theft less a chore
Posterity our politician paws

Removing risk from crimes that heretofore
Contained at least enough as not to bore.