It may be a song (sort of talk-singy, maybe, with a weird beat behind it), or it may be a poem, or it may just be this day’s doggerel.
But it was inspired by Kelly Robson on Facebook today, so here you go.
WISHFUL THINKING
by C. S. E. Cooney
for Kelly Robson
Those Pre-Raphaelite bros, they’d pose you so fine
Drown you in chloral and whisky and wine
But me when I model, I preen for Artemisia
My Rossetti’s a poem penned by Christina
Cuppa tea, grab a seat, turn on the TV
There’s President Wells (we call her “Ida B”)
Tonight watch that speech by H. Tubman, VP
Takes the stand in a hoodie, then takes a knee
Summer Olympics, they’re fencing with sabres
Veronica Franco versus Hypatia
But who gets the gold: poet? philosopher?
One feeds the other, a draw either/or
Hafta scoot to jiu-jitsu with Edith’s suffragettes
Then a dance at the Follies headlining Colette
Alight at a nightclub to watch Lady Day
In duet with Odetta–they’ll take us away
Now newspapers fill with our women in the stars
Nellie Bly on the fly reports back from Mars:
“Sor Juana Inès Debuts New Play Tonight!
We’ll be broadcasting live, at the speed of light…”
C.S.E. Cooney 