We needed a Lincoln
A Roosevelt, either one would do
Washington, astride his horse, his troops
This was the moment for it
Instead, a Millard Fillmore
A Franklin Pierce, with no characteristics
James Buchanan, affable and helpless
The lion’s share of the blame goes out
To the new Confederates and their slow, quiet coup
The fire not started but for their match
But we must, in retrospect look back
At those with firehose in hand
Who shrugged helplessly
And let the blaze consume us