Two poems in honour of the tariffs President Trump is imposing on Canada and Mexico today. Economists expect these to wreak havoc on the economies of all three countries.
“The tariffs, you know, they’re all set. They go into effect tomorrow.”
– Donald Trump
“Make that make sense.”
– Justin Trudeau
T is for tariffs that start up today.
A is for allies he’s driving away.
R is for rationale – no one knows what it is.
I is for ignorance, mostly it’s his. One
F is for fairness, a feature that’s missing, and one
F is for future, the thing that we’re risking.
S is for senseless, the markets all shriek
It turns out that tariffs are economically weak.
__________
Found poem
from Justin Trudeau’s speech in response to Trump’s tariffs – March 4, 2025
War against Canada
We don’t want this: your government has chosen to do this to you.
Make that make sense.
Your government has chosen to put America at risk.
They have chosen to harm American national security
They have chosen to launch a war that will harm American families.
Make that make sense.
They have chosen to sabotage their own agenda
Make that make sense.
Let’s look at the facts: We
made commitments
appointed
designated
launched.
In sum, we stepped up.
We did everything we promised,
we stuck to our word, and
we did it because we believe
in working together.
Make that make sense.
Donald, this is a very dumb thing to do.
Make it make sense.
We’re all going to pull
together, because that’s what we do. We will
use every tool, we will
be there to help.
We will defend, we will prevent, we will relentlessly fight.
We will stand up
every single second of every single day,
because this is worth fighting for.
There is no price we aren’t willing to pay,
and today is no different.
Make it make sense.
Persistence and Pedagogy 
Oh, the tariff poem…almost makes me wish I taught high school eco/gov; it would make an amazing start to a class discussion.
We boycotted the speech tonight, out of self-preservation of mind and soul.
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Tonight I went to a League of Women Voters event in protest for our democracy. In such a short time he has ruined so much.
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I will definitely be thinking about how I can use poetry as a balm for healing the hate and harm we’re saturated with every darn day. THANK YOU for these models and the reminder that our writing lives are such an important tool for justice.
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Great phrases in the found poem. Say what they may about Trudeau, he is a very good speaker.
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Whew, thank you. Poetry is a much wiser approach to dealing than the endless screaming towards which many of us might feel more inclined.
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Not sure anything with Trump makes sense. Poetry at least helps to manage whatever feelings surface in the current news sphere.
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It’s all so embarrassing, sad, and disgusting. I’ve been encouraged by all the outrage I’ve read, layered into slices. Hopefully, more of us can stand up.
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Oof, I’ve had to stop looking at the news lately to protect my heart. Make it make sense is what often runs through my mind, apart from rage. Thank you for the two poems, and a reminder of the power of writing in such times.
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If (tar)iffs and buts were Trump’s, who’s nuts…
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Amanda,
I’m glad I circled back around to your post, albeit a day late. I want to look every Canadian in the eye and say, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry hateful people did not learn from the past. I’m sorry the U.S. chose a dumbf*ck who hates everyone, but mostly his own country and its people.” Trudeau’s speech was brilliant. As Justin Withers (I think this is his name), an economist from Australia who teaches at Michigan, says, “You can’t change the principles of economics.” He excoriates Trump’s tariff policy. Honestly, I do not know where that idiot gets these gawd-awful ideas, but my guess is Vlad. Ugh. I love the way you channeled the idiocy vs the brilliance. Both poems are wonderful.
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