City of Bridges

By Terrance Hayes

Representative Doolittle thanks his left hand with his right hand,
Then thanks us, honored he says to have toured a city bridged
By more bridges than there are bridges in any other city in this fine state,
But not saying too much more so that his esteemed colleague,

Representative Hot Rod might say thank you
Representative Droolittle, and then thank us, the constituents,
Of a fine city he says, bridged by more bridges than there are states of the mind,
But not saying too much more so that his esteemed colleague,

Representative Sneakers with Dress Pants might say thank you
Representative Hard Rot and then thank us, the constituents
Of city bridged, he says by more bridges than there are mines in a Coal mining town,
But not saying too much more so that his esteemed colleague,

Representative Eat and Run might say thank you
Representative Sneaks in Dresses and then thank this fine city bridged,
He believes, by more bridges than there are ways to make war an industry,
But not saying too much more so that his esteemed colleagues,

Representative Toy Box and Representative Botox might say
Thank you Representative Eat Runts and sing something
About starlight and reciprocality in two part harmony
While the retired and aspiring representatives wait to say without saying it:

Thank you to the ears, noses and throats of campaign headquarters,
Thank you to the neck tied fork suckers and the little sacks of sugar,
Thank you to the delegates of the delegates and the rulers of abstract truth,
Thank you all for coming out tonight to help us build bridges and cross them

And then cross back and then cross them again before crossing back:
The rivers are deep, we’ve been told. The rivers are wide and needful as money.