Intricate poem based on "person, woman, man, camera, TV"

Acing the Test: A Poem on Those Five Words

(after  “Canzone” by W.H. Auden)

And when we move to re-elect this person

Who made his reputation on TV

By being boss of each “Apprentice” person

Whom otherwise you might ignore in person

But seemed so special to us when on camera,

Almost enough to be an unfailed person

Maintaining his integrity as person

Though having to project the idea of “man”

While subject to “You’re fired!” from host-man

(It’s sure he lacks rapport with any person):

A man known for his hostile view of woman

And tendency to grossly grab a woman.

Accessibility is crucial to each woman

From the vantage point of what defines this person,

Hallmark of what to him sums up a woman

So that he roars obtusely, “Woman!

Give life beyond my ratings on TV.

I must inform you now as man to woman

Despite the RNC’s emphasis on woman

That I will rate your status as a person

Somewhat lower than almost any person

Who dares appear before, behind a camera,

Unless that person bears the form of man

And can most strongly meet me as a man.”

He’s betting that the world to any man

Looks better when it’s dominating Woman

So our response must be to cry out, “Man

The lifeboats! Iceberg dead ahead! And man,

Do we ever need a reliable person

To show superiority as man

In all we deem the best about a man,

To reassure us there can be a worthy person

That lets us see what’s true about a person

To distinguish him from what mars man:

Not show him at his false best on the camera

Instead make who he is quite real on camera!”

Let us project the truth of a true camera

Which has to be conceived in mind of man,

For falsity’s embedded in the camera

Whose errors must be measured in camera

Empaneled with perspective from a woman.

Don’t see the man whose master is a camera

(Because all that he weighs is what’s on camera)

For what he claims to be: the true best person

Most likely to fit notions of a person

That we learn from staring at a camera

And, like the president, take from the TV

What solely is the focus of TV.

Substantial he appears on the TV,

Just as our eye becomes the eye of camera.

He gives praise to distortions of TV

Proclaiming that what’s real is TV

As “Fox & Friends” conveys him true in person

Cajoling suburb housewives by TV

As if they want seduction by TV,

Submitting to the blandishments of man

Whenever it seems it’s not just any man

But one who knows his way around TV

And seeks to rule it best of any person

While striving to conceal an empty person.

And so he aced the test, this special person:

A model of free access to each woman,

Figure that represents a style of man

Displaying scowls and grimaces on camera

Who’ll need forever Twitter and TV.