I should just be the president. 

I meet every prerequisite,

acquired every preferred personality trait. 

I pose behind the cameras, 

beg every picture-perfect popular girl 

to peruse my Instagram feed.

Pretty please like and comment 

I long to be perceived.

I feed the parasites

against my parents' pleas and 

they prepare a parade, praising me 

for raising myself alone. 

I stand at the podium 

producing poetry that belongs printed 

in solicitor’s pamphlets and 

burned in the back of Bibles. 

I write with Van Gough’s paintbrush, 

scribble with pencils carved by Picasso.

I should be president,

I’d fix it all I promise.

I’ll win over every populist and 

preach political propaganda 

until everyone but the partisans have gone.

I should be the president.