Farewell, Colin Powell

deadline poet

By Calvin Trillin

This article appeared in the December 13, 2004 edition of The Nation.

November 24, 2004

We need to say farewell to Colin Powell,
Who should have long ago tossed in the towel.
Instead he lent his good name to the team
In vouching for its cockamamie scheme.
And now the team has shoved him out the door--
Not needed anymore (they got their war).
He's let himself be used by lesser men.
It's sad to see, as we remember when
Some thought he was the President-elect to be,
How easily is done a Colinectomy.

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About Calvin Trillin

Calvin Trillin is The Nation's "deadline poet." He has been a staff writer for The New Yorker since 1963 and has written the syndicated weekly column "Uncivil Liberties" since 1986. He has authored many, many books, including Tepper's Not Going Out and Deadline Poet: My Life as a Doggerelist. more...
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