Calvin Trillin

Verse Columnist

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

The Loyal Opposition The Loyal Opposition

The Senate Democrats sat mum,
Like doves afraid to coo.
So history will soon record
This war as their war too.

Mar 20, 2003 / Column / Calvin Trillin

A Cheer for the New Nation of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro A Cheer for the New Nation of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro

Whose name stands out like banners made of Day-Glo?
The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro!
What sounds as if it's jerry-built by Lego?

Mar 13, 2003 / Column / Calvin Trillin

The Kurds Are in the Way Again The Kurds Are in the Way Again

The Kurds are in the way again, And so, to our dismay again, If we begin a fray again, As it appears we may again, It seems we must betray again

Mar 5, 2003 / Column / Calvin Trillin

An Analysis of the Turkish-American Alliance, Its Diplomatic Significance and Its Role in Establishing Democracy in the Middle East An Analysis of the Turkish-American Alliance, Its Diplomatic Significance and Its Role in Establishing Democracy in the Middle East

Get allies? That's not hard to do.
We'll simply go and buy a few.

Feb 27, 2003 / Column / Calvin Trillin

On the Backlash Against the Perfidious French On the Backlash Against the Perfidious French

They're relegated to the side.
This role--which they cannot abide,
Which torments Frenchmen day and night--
Can make them do things out of spite.

Feb 19, 2003 / Column / Calvin Trillin

We Speak Not of Osama We Speak Not of Osama

NOTE: Because of an editorial error, last week's poem was incorrectly printed. This is a corrected version. Our apologies to Calvin Trillin (and to Cole Porter). --The Editors

Feb 13, 2003 / Column / Calvin Trillin

We Speak Not of Osama We Speak Not of Osama

(With apologies to Cole Porter, the master, who wrote "My Heart Belongs to Daddy")

Feb 6, 2003 / Column / Calvin Trillin

On the Democratic Presidential Race On the Democratic Presidential Race

It now seems clear, from what we hear,
That Gary Hart will reappear.
(He ran well once, but then he slipped;
He couldn't keep his trousers zipped.)

Jan 30, 2003 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Two Bad Guys Two Bad Guys

This Kim Jong Il's a naughty lad,
But Bush says he's not half as bad
As ol' Saddam, whom we must swat
Before he gets what Kim has got.

Jan 22, 2003 / Column / Calvin Trillin

A Republican Discusses Taxes A Republican Discusses Taxes

Because they pay too much in taxes--
To feed the poor and fight the axis--
The rich are truly discommoded.
It spoils the fun of being loaded.

Jan 16, 2003 / Column / Calvin Trillin

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