The Devil You Know
Whatever happened to common sense
when did we all become so dense
ya can’t fall off an un-sat fence
dreaming of why and where and whence
trying to figure out farthings and pence
trapped in a world of hereafter and hence
can’t really recall but it’s been that way since
we o’erthrew the king to favor the prince
expecting pure satin – wound up with cheap chintz
our armor now rusted, bloodless, with dents
thrown out of our houses we now live in tents
downwind from the castle’s hungerless scents
venom the substance of our effluence
fueled by delay of our just recompense
and for our actions offer no penitence
our fields long gone fallow wait in suspense
for the word of a dead king “let planting commence”
a king raised to power at our expense
John G. Lawless
©12/13/2021
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