Mercury day poetry: The First Amendment
For a second week in a row, I’m stretching — oh, how I’m stretching — the meaning of the word “poem.”
Because, given all the focus on Encinitas these past few days, it seemed like a good time to run the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
When I talk about stretching the meaning of “poem,” keep in mind, if there were a Supreme Court of Poetry for the U.S., and either Bobbie or I were on it, we’d be the Antonin Scalia on the court. Strict, strict, strict constructionists.
If that doesn’t make sense, here’s a link to Cornell’s explanation of this basic American right.
Posted by Steve
