‘Trump Trompe,’ by Dr. Judith Jeon-Chapman

Trump Trompe
By Dr. Judith Jeon-Chapman

It is clear in French,
The root of this creature:
Tromper, transitive verb,
To deceive someone,
Like a con man,
Also to cheat on one’s spouse;
Or se tromper,
To err,
Reflexive in French,
When one deceives oneself.
Obviously, all meanings apply
In this notorious case:
Trump trompe,
Trump se trompe,
But when conjugated with Trump,
Even when in the present,
Always remains in
The imperfect,
Trump rendering impossible
Both
Future perfect and
Present progressive.

Dr. Judith Jeon-Chapman is a French professor at Worcester State University.