Patricia Smith

B H K T W

The President Flies Over

Aloft between heaven and them,

I babble the landscape — what staunch, vicious trees,
what cluttered roads, slow cars. This is my

country as it was gifted me — victimless, vast.
The soundtrack buzzing the air around my ears
continually loops ditties of eagles and oil.
I can’ t choose. Every moment I’ m awake,
aroused instrumentals channel theme songs,
speaking
what I cannot.