Lizard Kings
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Between two lands of mountain mist
There lies the lower plain
Where bone-dry desert sands exist
In constant need of rain.
Yet still proud creatures work and play
Upon cracked earth each sun-drenched day.
The leather-lizzards, long and gray,
Claim ancient history
Entitles them to lead the way
As desert royalty;
But creature discontent prevails
From slither-snakes to slow pace snails.
Society's contentment fails
When creatures can't agree
On what good governing entails
Beyond democracy;
The highest form of tolerance
Ensures a neutral governance.
Equality with permanance
For creatures great and small
Engenders peaceful countenance
Among the creatures all.
This balance must be guaranteed
As peaceful coexistent's need.
Each individual creature's creed
Evokes complexity.
Adaptive skills mark every breed
With ingenuity;
Sure-footed misty mountain sheep
To prarie dogs who burrow deep.
Each predator allowed to keep
No more than is its due;
So every creature then will reap
Survival's gift anew
Without a lizard as their king
And all the discontent king's bring.
Author Notes
This poem is a sextet. The first four lines
are written in 8/6 ballad form with an abab
rhyme scheme. The last two lines are written
as a tetrameter (8 syllables) rhyming couplet.
The couplet rhyme is carried on to the the next
stanza as the rhyme in lines 1 and 3. Hope
you enjoy this inadequate nod to George Orwell
Copyright © Tom Mcmurray | Year Posted 2011
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