William Kuhns

Let’s pretend we have a leader

Let’s pretend he’s not a fool

Let’s pretend his declarations

Aren’t a verbal form of drool

Let’s pretend his self-absorption

Somehow does include us all

Let’s pretend his wild lurches

Won’t leave our planet in free fall

Let’s pretend such august office

Gives its holder steady charm

Let’s pretend, no matter what comes next

There’s no cause for alarm

Let’s pretend he does know what he does

A king in unaccustomed clothes

Let’s pretend signs he’s unstable

Are strictly ruses for our foes

Let’s pretend the seas aren’t rising

And spewing carbon is okay

Let’s pretend the planet is immune,

There’ll be no Judgment Day

Let’s pretend the world’s secure enough

To withstand his rampages

Let’s pretend he’s not the very one

We’ve been warned of through the ages

Let’s pretend we can ignore him

And our lives will be the same

Let’s pretend no matter what he does

We aren’t the ones to blame