The Senator Speaks of the Lobbyist
by Marcielle Brandler
He leads me to an anteroom.
He shows me the slick publication
of spliced photographs.
At the buffet table, a perplexing
vigor bursts from his eyes.
On the dance floor, he presses
his hips to mine,
and the coil of hundred dollar
bills excites my anticipation
as it does every time we embrace.
He is able to play along when I
clasp his hand, keeping my
noncommittal distance,
reticent to kiss-kiss for the cameras.
We have discussed the jeopardy
of free speech as situations and
power bases reverse themselves.
Now, those once in
power serve the new
power.
Previously published in The Breathing House: Imagist Poems, by Marcielle Brandler, iUniverse, 2006.