“Strike first, strike fast, strike hard.”
No, we didn’t talk about it much back at base.
I told them straight. Bumblebee kept playing
the Vietnam classics: Creedence, The Doors, Dylan.
Whatever. But, yeah, I voted for him.
I came here in the 80s, saw what Reagan achieved.
He’s the same. The thing that got me was his speeches;
America First and those 2nd Amendment rights.
Obviously steel production is big for me too.
I drew the line at wearing a MAGA cap
but I swore to defend this land against traitors,
invaders, terrorists and SJWs. And for that, we need weapons.
This ain’t no beard-growing, beer-making, halloumi-eating picnic
down here: you’ve got Decepticons infiltrating everywhere,
coming in as refugees with fake war stories,
or covering up as migrants with tales of woe.
Drugs. I don’t get religion either but that Islam stuff
some fleshlings are hooked on? And don’t get me started
on men becoming women; I know I can transform
but I’m an energon-guzzling piece of kit all the way down,
if you know what I mean. Some things need to stay put.
Optimus wasn’t happy but he’s all red, white, and blue really.
I’ve still got my guns. I can shoot up metal
until it’s brittle as glass. That’s where we’re at.
Things need smashing up a bit. I stand by that.
SAMUEL TONGUE’s first collection is Sacrifice Zones (Red Squirrel, 2020) and he has two pamphlets: Stitch (Tapsalteerie, 2018) and Hauling-Out (Eyewear, 2016). He is Project Coordinator at the Scottish Poetry Library and has a website: www.samueltongue.com.