A Word of Sympathy for Candidates Who Did Not Do Well in the Ames Voting

It really would stick in the craw To find that you had to withdraw From such a big race For not keeping pace In a poll that was nothing but straw.

It really would stick in the craw To find that you had to withdraw From such a big race For not keeping pace In a poll that was nothing but straw.

That’s certainly true of Lamar, Whose finish did not approach par. The oxygen drain That caused his campaign Will put it beyond CPR.

It’s hard to remember before Lamar joined the candidates corps. He runs with such zeal The chances are he’ll Reappear there in 2004.

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