(with apologies to Elizabeth Barrett Browning and her Sonnet 43)

How do I fail thee? Let me count the ways.
I fail thee to the depth and breadth and height of all the oil wells
My Executive Orders can reach, when failing out of sight
For the ends of being and lack of grace.
I fail thee to the level of every American’s
Most important needs, by sun and candle-light.
I fail thee freely, while I silence the Right.
I fail thee purely, while you turn from praise.
I fail thee with the passion I occasionally used
During my entire failed career, and since my very childhood.
I fail thee with a intelligence I seemed to lose
With every passing day. I fail thee with the breath,
Confusion, tears, of all my life; and, when God chooses,
I shall fail to fail thee only after death.

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