Poem: Hillary's Night

Editor's note: On Thursday night, Hillary Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination for president. Cognoscenti's poet of the political scene, Erika Fine, offers her take. 

H I L L A R Y' S N I G H T

She is not a great speaker like Bill or Obama.

She is often encumbered by flare-ups and drama.

In a rare note of candor, she made an admission:

She told us she’s just not a born politician.

Once in office she toils and makes contributions

And she crosses the aisle to craft joint solutions.

Her Republican colleagues have praised her in private,

And their malice subsides; when she runs they revive it.

We wonder how Clinton has learned to survive it.

Her endless resilience, you’ve got to high-five it.

The convention’s last night was her grand coronation,

Er, I mean she accepted the Dem’s nomination.

On a 40-year journey’s sublime culmination,

Would Hillary furnish a fitting oration?

The presenters before her all carried her water,

They were cogent and strong, and at last came her daughter.

Ivanka and Chelsea were once known as friends.

In one or two decades they might make amends.

But each was superb at her parent’s convention,

Giving Clinton and Trump a more human dimension.

Then at last it was Hillary’s time to appear;

She held onto Chelsea while Bill shed a tear.

A wrinkle-free forehead, from Botox, I’d guess—

Our political women can’t look like a mess.

She was glowing, composed, resplendent in white,

And she rose to the challenge; tonight was her night.

The audience chanted that “love will trump hate,”

And Clinton agreed that our bonds make us great.

We are stronger together, a village is needed,

Else the hardships we face will continue unheeded.

Our forefathers fought a unique revolution

So we could enjoy a secure constitution.

She was gallant to Bernie and gave him her thanks,

And she vowed that together they’d fight for his planks.

Campaigns are poetic, but governing’s prose—

Though her speech wasn’t lyric, her words soared and rose.

Most viewers agreed she was warm, strong, and steady;

She showed that for POTUS, she’s eager and ready.