The accent was curious, quaint, like an      
ancient black-and-white movie hero who       
rode a pinto and shot from the waist. But       
this hero never rode a horse nor ever       
fired a gun in his life. The action was by       
mouth, in rapid-fire delivery, safely from       
the speaker’s podium. “Now how th’ Heel       
(he meant Hell) we gonna get are selves       
baik in th’ dravah’s seat?”  
Of course he clarified the question was      
rhetorical and the accent disappeared.       
He was a sham I guessed – but the rest       
of the crowd gladly lent their ears. 
He won by being something that appealed,      
a creation of imagination, a figment from an       
all too common theme. 
Goddamn, I know I seen his granddaddy in      
the movies back when – not the same name       
but that was easily explained; no, what       
concerned me was how playing the corrupt       
character of a bounty hunter legitimised his       
claim to be best running mate for President.       
© 5 July 2007, I.D. Carswell
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