.

Sharpton

He talks his walk and walks his talk and then
He walks his talk and talks his walk again.
The walk he talks goes nowhere I can see.
The talk he walks seems jabberwock to me.

But everybody thinks his talk is grand
And make him rich by paying him through the nose
Despite the fact his walk is shifting sand
And what he talks is mostly just a pose.

When riots turn a city to scorched earth
He’ll walk his talk and talk his walk and then
He’ll milk the tragedy for all it’s worth;
And talk and talk and talk and talk again.

.

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James A. Tweedie is a retired pastor living in Long Beach, Washington. He has written and published six novels, one collection of short stories, and four collections of poetry including Sidekicks, Mostly Sonnets, and Laughing Matters, all with Dunecrest Press. His poems have been published nationally and internationally in both print and online media. He was honored with being chosen as the winner of the 2021 SCP International Poetry Competition.

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10 Responses

  4. Joseph S. Salemi

    Al Sharpton has gotten rich by being a rabble-rousing race-baiter. The fact that the Democrats honor him tells you a lot about that party.

    Reply
  6. Warren Bonham

    The examples are too numerous to count but he did a softball interview with Kamala on October 20th on MSNBC. Immediately prior to the interview, the Harris campaign donated $500,000 to Sharpton’s non-profit. Pretty sleazy.

    Reply
    • James A. Tweedie

      I wrote this poem months ago but forgot about it. The Harris interview scandal brought it to mind which is why I submitted it. It’s not particularly good poetry but it is, as you say, timely.

      Reply
  7. Brian A. Yapko

    A wonderfully Seussical poem which made me laugh and cringe at the same time. Al Sharpton gives me the creeps and deserves the savage skewering you give him.

    Reply
  8. C.B. Anderson

    Sharpton might be the ultimate gasbag. This public figure’s only claim to greatness is that he is systematically wrong about everything, which is no easy feat. I’d thank you for the laugh, but I feel like I’m going to throw up my lunch. It’s persons like him that make me doubt the veridicality of the injunction to love thine enemies.

    Reply
  9. Adam Sedia

    Until his recent weight loss, I wouldn’t say the good reverend had done very much walking, and I think you gave him too much credit when you say “everybody thinks his talk is grand.” I know you mean that is the impression given by mass media, but I honestly think all but the hopelessly woke – even those who claim to support him — agree with your poem.

    Reply

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