Admittedly, I am no Calvin Trillin. I love his writing, both poetry and prose. I am not even close to being in his league (I have no gift for meter). As imitation is truly the highest form of flattery, here is my first tribute to America's Deadline Poet. I hope this qualifies as substantive.
MR. ALLEN'S FOLLY
"Welcome to America,"
said Mr. Allen with a silly grin
to a Webb campaign worker
with a brown tint to his skin.
"Welcome to Virginia,"
Mr. Allen added on,
not knowing the man, unlike him,
was a Virginia-born son.
"Macaca" was the epithet
candidate Allen twice uttered.
With that word his goose wasn't cooked,
but the pan was surely buttered.