I’m studying poetry this term in the Creative Writing course I’m doing with York University; my last one, as I’m switching to an MA in Creative Writing with the Open University in October!) One of this weeks exercises was to write a poem using the voice of someone you really liked, or disliked.

At first I thought I’d write as J K Rowling. I had an idea to tell her life story using spells from the Harry Potter books to hang it together, but I had a rotten week and wasn’t in the frame of mind to do it. Maybe I’ll come back to that idea, one day.

I thought I’d channel some anger instead, so I started looking for quotes from the one and only Donald Trump to see if that stirred something up. An idea quickly formed, and I wrote this poem, mostly using quotes from the man himself. Obviously they’re out of context, and I’ve pulled quotes from a range of subjects together. Obviously I have put my own spin on it, because I don’t like what candidate Trump stands for. All the same, the end result is remarkably chilling.

I know words.
I have the best words.
I’m using them to build a wall
Nobody builds walls better than me.

My Twitter is so powerful
it makes my enemies
tell the Truth.
I’m using it to build a wall
Nobody builds walls better than me.

It doesn’t really matter
what the media writes
as long as you’ve got a
young
and beautiful
piece of ass.
I’m using them to build a wall
Nobody builds walls better than me.

My fingers are
long and beautiful
like
other parts of my body.
I’m using them to build a wall
Nobody builds walls better than me.

I don’t want
congrats
I want toughness and
vigilance.
I’ll use them to build a wall
Nobody builds walls better than me.

When they send
their people
they don’t send the best
They’re sending their
rapists
I’m calling for a shutdown
I’m building a wall
Nobody builds walls better than me
and I will make you pay for that.
You mark my words.