I Wandered Lonely As the Crowd

I wandered lonely as the crowd Of harlots, beggars, thieves and shills, slow followed helpless as it plowed Through the valleys, over the hills. Although the leaders of this herd Spoke loudly no one heard a word. Continuous, amoeba like It searched to find its changing way A predator, slow poised to strike. Its followers its chosen prey. And yet the mindless throngs embrace This demon with a hidden face. The strange amoebic being purred As its harsh needs it plainly shared Its hum now in violence roared Against all those who never cared. A fire lit now boldly blazed I knew somehow the mob was crazed. And then they came with boots and clubs Burned the stores and blamed the owners. They weren’t the police but hooded thugs Messengers of unknown donors. I wandered lonely thru this crowd And wondered, WHY, is this allowed. John G. Lawless ©9/20/2022