Poems: Pennsylvania Avenue
- Robert John Andrews
- Mar 8
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 1

Forgive me for my parody of “And to Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street” by Dr. Seuss:
When I leave home to go to congress
My voters always say to me
Citizens must keep your eyes open less you miss
You really must see what you can see
But when I tell them where’ve I’ve been
And what I think I’ve seen
They look at me and sternly say
You make the bizarre much too routine
Stop telling such outlandish tales
Stop turning minnows into whales
Now what can I say
When I get home today
What indeed could I say what is oddly true
Of what I saw on Pennsylvania Avenue
I’ve seen men in uniform marching in step
Marines in rhythm shouting hup hup hep
There was a marching band blaring loud
Playing God bless American to the cheering crowd
Flags galore waving in the breeze
And not one daring to take a knee
Mighty tanks come next along the street
Why be humble, quiet, and discreet
Why even we can parade the nuclear weapons
Showing off that we got the bigger guns
And that makes a story that’s really not bad
But it still could be better. Suppose that I add
Guns galore brandished on shoulders
Of dozens of very tired soldiers
Soldiers who’d much rather be home with beer
But marched out by a president who needs to be cheered
A president much like Tinkerbell
Because faeries need clapping they tell
For belief in them is the attention they need
And upon adoration and praise they feed
Yes, we all do love a festive parade
But why does it have to be such a silly charade?
See the man in the fake uniform at the center of the route
Let’s all give him an appropriately royal salute
Yes, I had seen this glorious bombastic review
And to think I saw it on Pennsylvania Avenue
This is Presidents’ Day weekend. Remember: Lincoln never got to see the Grand Review of the Armies along Pennsylvania Avenue that Lincoln had earned.
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