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No One to Pray With

How about a hand for Sarah Palin?

Calvin Trillin

April 2, 2009

So I’m looking around for somebody to pray with, I just need maybe a little help, maybe a little extra, and the McCain campaign, love ’em, you know, they’re a lot of people around me, but nobody I could find that I wanted to hold hands with and pray.

–Sarah Palin, recalling the moments 
before her debate with Joe Biden

I look at McCain’s folks around me.

An urge to hold hands I don’t feel.

A lot of these folks are from cities.

Americans? Yes, but not real.

I’m looking for someone to pray with,

Before I go into the fray.

But half of these folks went to Harvard,

Which means that they’re probably gay.

I look at McCain’s folks around me.

I know now I’m in the wrong crowd.

For I can find no one to pray with,

And praying alone’s not allowed.

Calvin TrillinCalvin Trillin is The Nation’s “deadline poet.”


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