APC - AXE, PROPAGANDA and CONSENT
APC (AXE, PROPAGANDA & CONSENT)
The forest didn’t shrink from fire or storms rolling in from afar;
It dwindled under the swing of steel, met with the rustling applause of leaves.
An axe wandered through the trees, proclaiming:
“My handle is made of wood, carved from your very essence.
How could I possibly be your foe?”
And the green, white, green trees nodded in agreement.6
The iroko admired the handle’s craftsmanship. The mahogany marveled at its rich grain.
The cedar called it kin, singing, “On your mandate, we shall stand.”
And the old, corny axe beamed with pride.
A tortoise shared a thought with the river:
“The crocodile starts with sweet talk,
Long before it reveals its sharp teeth.”
But the rivere river just chuckled.¹4
A goat chose the butcher, lured by promises of lush greener grass.
The knife showed up, wrapped in the fabric of 2027 campaign.¹6
A drum INECtically cautioned the dancers:
“The hand that strikes me doesn’t sway to my rhythm.”
Yet, the dancers dismissed it as mere pessimism.
Branches turned into stumps, and those stumps defended the axe:
“The cutting Congress is a form of invisible reform.
The All Progressive...pain is a necessary sacrifice.
The whipping out or emptiness? That’s progress.”²³
Then, an ancient stump spoke up:
“Every blade needs a handle.
Every throne requires believers.”
But the forest continued to admire the handle,
Waiting for shade from the very hand that cut it.
I hope they know it will be a regrettable wait
When fate is sealed for another four years.³°
VICK MANUEL POETRY {VMP}
FORM: Narrative Poem
Copyright ©?7th June 2026.
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