Posted from comments section of a WaPost article - first hand acct by a journalist at the correspondent's dinner

[happy feet]

AMERICA IS A GUN
by Brian Bilston

England is a cup of tea.
France, a wheel of ripened brie.
Greece, a short, squat olive tree.
America is a gun.

Brazil is football on the sand.
Argentina, Maradona’s hand.
Germany, an oompah band.
America is a gun.

Holland is a wooden shoe.
Hungary, a goulash stew.
Australia, a kangaroo.
America is a gun.

Japan is a thermal spring.
Scotland is a highland fling.
Oh, better to be anything
than America as a gun.

[SuzyandPuffpuff]

1. Ya

Good job whomever

[Emrys]

9. Brian Bilston (pen name of Paul Millicheap) was dubbed "The Poet Laureate of Twitter" some years ago

Last edited Wed Apr 29, 2026, 08:03 PM - Edit history (1)

for his pithy rhymes at a time when it had a more restricted character limit. He's since published several collections of his works and a novel, and staged a number of speaking tours. A bit more about him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Bilston

Probably his best-known work is the poem "Refugees", written in 2016 and since published as an illustrated book aimed at children, which has featured in many British schools' and universities' curriculums:

Refugees

They have no need of our help
So do not tell me
These haggard faces could belong to you or I
Should life have dealt a different hand
We need to see them for who they really are
Chancers and scroungers
Layabouts and loungers
With bombs up their sleeves
Cut-throats and thieves
They are not
Welcome here
We should make them
Go back to where they came from
They cannot
Share our food
Share our homes
Share our countries
Instead let us
Build a wall to keep them out
It is not okay to say
These are people just like us
A place should only belong to those who are born there
Do not be so stupid to think that
The world can be looked at another way

(Now read from bottom to top)

[summer_in_TX]

11. WOW.

Sitting here with goosebumps. Thanks for sharing that, Emrys.

[orleans]

12. i remember america is a gun but i don't recall this one. i love it. thanks for posting it. nt

[FadedMullet]

14. Jeez, I did not see that coming. Great.

[70sEraVet]

16. WOW! That is clever and powerful!!

Like some of the other commenters, I've never heard of that poem!
Thank you!

[eShirl]

2. written in 2016, more relevant than ever today

[LymphocyteLover]

3. a classic

[tazcat]

4. Sad...

[El Mimbreno]

5. Always worth reposting. ¡Gracias! nt

[Joinfortmill]

6. Sadly, true.

[Blue Owl]

7. Problem is....

Fucksticks like Hegseth and the rest of the NRA-sponsored extreme right get a raging little boner over the thought of America as a gun, because they are sick fucks who secretly want to shoot anyone from another country, race or religion.

This minority of kooks must be removed from power.

[Skittles]

10. cowards love their guns

yup

[Cha]

8. High TY Kick!

💔💙 ☮️🌻🕯️🕊️💜

[calimary]

13. That is one helluva poem.

Thanks for posting it here, happy feet! It REALLY makes ya think.

[OhioBack2Blue]

15. Word.

I blame the right wing for promoting extremism starting with Reagan.

I blame the Democratic party for being patsies and going along with Republicon economic voodoo, greed, pseudoscience, reductionism, and superstitions.

Now they are taking all of us down with them.

"Winner" = BRICS

America's "leaders" have reaped what they sowed.