Nero Mind

The Unknown
By Donald Rumsfeld

As we know,
There are known knowns.
There are things we know we know.
We also know
There are known unknowns.
That is to say
We know there are some things
We do not know.
But there are also unknown unknowns,
The ones we don't know
We don't know.

— Feb. 12, 2002, Department of Defense news briefing

Nero Mind, Nero Mind
By Tatiana Pahlen
On Donald Rumsfeld's briefings in briefs

The curtain moves,
the lights go on,
zooming in on the bluffing face;

A faint whisper runs in the audience:
"Is he here to defend us?"

Peering specs on his narrowed eyes
reflecting a boastful gaze;
hair well combed
with a trace of shine,
dental blades set to bite.

The costume aide must have fled the land,
ditching the centurion's site;
his tunic shrunk, his sandals slack,
arms bent to defend or fight.

No usual "Bees"
Were found to clap,
fed-up with the Show-biz,
all sickened by this flop.

Portraying Nero,
Rummy won no prize,
He didn't get the applause!

April 4, 2003