State of the Union in Poetry

I've been reading through Walter Brueggemann's Prayers for a Privileged People (one of many pointers I have taken from Mark Perkins, most without his knowledge), and this was the next poem up the day after President Obama's annual speech. Brueggemann has rather more social justice concerns than my inner economist likes, but his prayer-poems are generally worthwhile (what a ringing endorsement). Two selections.

"State of the Union," Prayers for a Privileged People

We will listen to hear that the union is in good shape:

the war is being won;
the economy is coming back;
migrants are facing new rigors;
unemployment is down.

There will be much applause—

and we will be glad for such political performance. 

...
Our Lord is so weak and so foolish and so poor,

and yet he is our Savior.

We are pulled apart by our double awareness

of self-satisfaction and dis-ease.

We submit to your goodness our vexed lives

that we cannot resolve.

Give us honesty and openness that we may become aware

of the true state of our union.