Parrotland

Apparently
the man who first named America
had second thoughts about his choice.
If he had managed to succeed
America might have been called
Parrotland.
Imagine
the alternate universe where
the United States are
the United States of Parrotland—
I’m sure it would be
a kinder, better place.

Parrotlandians
would never commit genocide,
never enslave Black Africans.
Parrotland Thomas Jefferson
would marry Sally Hemings, not rape her,
assuming that she was willing to marry him,
and if she said no, he would accept
it because in Parrotland,
old Tom not only wrote all men and women
are created equal, he meant it.

In Parrotland,
immigrants are welcomed and treasured.
In Parrotland,
poets are wealthy and no one goes hungry.
Jimmy Buffet
ran for president, but he lost to
Janet Jackson
and no one was offended by her bare breast—
they put it on money instead.
Healthcare
in Parrotland is a human right
and no one has to go without.

In Parrotland,
you’re still alive and we’re on vacation
on our way to the tomb of Abraham Lincoln’s husband.

DA Hosek’s poetry has appeared in Hanging Loose, Meniscus, Great Lakes Review, Bronze Bird Review, Belt Magazine, and elsewhere. He earned his MFA from the University of Tampa. He lives and writes in Oak Park, IL and spends his days as an insignificant cog in the machinery of corporate America. @dahosek.bsky.social and dahosek.com