Washington – President Bush surprised many in attendance here tonight, as he delivered his final State of the Union address in iambic pentameter, a particular type of meter, used most often in poetry and drama. The plays and sonnets of Shakespeare are often cited as examples of iambic pentameter. Never before has a U.S. president used the unusual rhythm in a State of the Union speech. Former President Bill Clinton said he did do so during his 1993 State of the Union speech, but he was lying to impress a woman at a bar.
The address began in the usual fashion, with President Bush being introduced by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Then, after a round of applause, Mr. Bush launched into the unusual meter, without a warning or a clue.
He began,
“Madame Speaker and V.P. Cheney,
Members of the Congress, House and S’nate,
Tonight you are to see a thing that’s new,
A revolution in the State of U.
I will perform this speech in rhyming verse,
And after last year, how could it be worse?”
The stunned crowd grew silent. The normal whooping and hollering did not occur. The president continued,
“Th’economy she’s in good shape, I know
You’re hearing things that say it’s not so good.
There is a crunch right now that is for sure,
But we will weather through just like before.
The thing I’d like to say more than the rest,
Is tax cuts that don’t end, they are the best.
So make them last forever, if you will,
And I won’t have to veto all your bills.
Take heart, my friends, the Union, She is strong.
And she’ll be stronger after I take off.”
The president then paused, and looked out into the stunned audience.
“Thank you, and God bless you,” he concluded. And he walked off the dais and out of the House Chamber.
