"THE WHITE HOUSE HAS DISINVITED THE POETS" by Julia Alvarez

"The White House has disinvited the poets
  to a cultural tea in honor of poetry
  after the Secret Service got wind of a plot
  to fill Mrs. Bush's ears with anti-war verse.

  Were they afraid the poets might persuade 
  a sensitive girl who always loved to read,
  a librarian who stocked the shelves with Poe
  and Dickinson?  Or was she herself afraid
  to be swayed by the cooing doves and live at odds
  with screaming hawks in her family?
 
  The maids are putting away the cups 
  and the silver spoons, sad to be missing out
  on musicia they seldom get to hear
  in the hallowed halls. . .The valet sighs
  as he rolls the carpets up and dusts the blinds.
  
  No Poetry Until Further Notice!
  Instead the rooms are vacuumed and set up
  for closed-door meetings planning an attack
  against the ones who always bear the brunt
  of silencing: the poor, the powerless,
  the ones who serve, those bearing poems, not arms.
  Why be so afraid of us, Mrs. Bush?
  you're married to a scarier fellow.
  We bring you the tidings of great joy-
  not only peace but poetry on earth.

  JULIA ALVAREZ