This is a true story.

In the summer of 1984, I was about one year old.

My mother took me to the first Democratic Socialist

of America convention in Burlington, Vermont.

All the big name Socialists were there.

Cornell West, Larry Web site, the Austin Cop, Larry Craig.

It was a who's who of all the men leading the fight

against capitalism.

The keynote speaker that year was a young Socialist

mayor named Bernie Sanders.

I was sitting in the back in the women's section

on my mother's lap.

Swenning in her arms as it was an unseasonably hot

that summer, which must have felt

to her like cradling a raw turkey.

Bernie came out from backstage to wild ovation

as all the men wanted to commend him for his work,

defeating the equal rights amendment.

Bernie slithered to the day, is hunched over,

ringing his hands menacingly in that way he always walks.

I want to thank the men for having me here today.

Thank the women for their reverence silence.

...