Promises, Promises

Place not your trust in princes,
who may dump you in the muck,
where,  as history oft evinces
you will be for ever stuck.

A cardinal this lesson learned,
Thomas Wolsey for to name.
All his fawning only earned
ill fortune and great shame:

"If I had served God half as well
as I have my noble sire,
 I, now hearing my last knell
would honorably retire:

"Place not your trust in any man,"
Jan Hus said at the stake,
where ill winds the flames did fan,
all for the clergy's sake. 

Earth's great leaders promise much.
They promise this and that;
they'll promise lots more such and such
as long as they stay fat.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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