Slut of Illinois

By Emma David

ego is the root of all evil                          a bad upbringing turned lethal                      and when guns can be won at the fair                   and voting is traded for prayer                       we don’t need to be convinced                               ‘you’ll change your mind’ they hiss                  through snake tongues                          and protect their sons                          say, ‘he’s just a boy’                            and she’s the slut of Illinois