I was scheduled to talk about the state of the world

But I feared that

I could not get through my speech without

Saying fuck you to the audience

Fuck you all to the moon and back.

Perhaps I should find a bottle of vodka first

To grease the wheels of my political discourse

Even though I don’t drink

Because contemplating the state of the world

As I stand behind the podium

And gaze at my rapt audience

Somehow saying more than fuck you all

Seems impossible.

But I can

Say thank you ladies and gentlemen

For inviting me to speak today about

My thoughts

Which I am honored to share with you

We are all so fucked

I take a breath.

And the audience is kind enough to stand

And clap.