Nothing Beside Remains

I met a traveler from a recent past,

Who said, “A man came forward with a taunting talk,

Inciting anger, setting off discord, pitting one against the other,

Promising only he could set things right

 If granted power.

But power proved destructive:

Life was harder, health poorer,

Wealth was concentrated,

Governments ineffective,

While a few did vastly benefit.

People rebelled; they drove the man away.”

Now on the airwaves linger these few words:

“The most successful

 in the history of the presidency.”

Nothing beside remains.