Oh The Thinks You Can Think

THIS POEM NOW APPEARS IN THE ONLINE EDITION OF THE NEW YORK TIMES - IT IS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR, IN THE PRINT COPY, IN EDITED FORM, IN LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, TOMORROW, DECEMBER 9, 2019

"I have second thoughts about everything"  -  Donald Trump, August, 2019

You can think about this

You can think about that

You can think where you stand

You can think where you sat

Oh the thinks you can think

If only you try

You can think of one truth

Instead of ten lies

And it need not end there

You can think of much more

Like opening your heart

Not just shutting a door

You can think about crowds

Of enormous size

Or maybe, just maybe

Of one baby's cries

You can wonder aloud

Did I do what I could

Not just to do bad

But this once to do good

Think, think again

And then a third time

And maybe you'll learn

Thinking isn't a crime  

Thinking can hurt

I know its hard work

But just think about

Not being a jerk

You can think of your buildings

That reach to the sky

You can think of your planes

That fly oh so high

But maybe, just maybe

Instead think of others

Those that have little

Those who just suffer

And if you think to yourself

Oh I can't do that 

That would cost far too much

Let me be where I'm at

Then know that we think

That you can do better

Just learn a new alphabet

With no I as a letter

Oh the thinks you can think

If only you try

The sky is the limit

In a world with no I.