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

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021



Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 12/21/2021 2:19:00 PM
John, I loved the lines "we o’erthrew the king to favor the prince expecting pure satin – wound up with cheap chintz". We always expect the next regime to be a vast improvement over the last. Great writing.
Login to Reply
Date: 12/14/2021 8:10:00 PM
My, but haven't you written the history of man -- wallowing in familiar futility -- in a mere 24 lines!! Bravo, John.
Login to Reply
Lawless Avatar
John Lawless
Date: 12/17/2021 9:11:00 AM
BUT WAIT......COMING SOON....."THE HISTORY OF MAN" PART II
Date: 12/14/2021 7:19:00 AM
Wow. Incredibly brilliant writing. Enjoyed and hope our prayers reach the One who is truly in control of it all... He can make everything as it should be. God bless you. Love, Gina
Login to Reply
Date: 12/13/2021 12:26:00 PM
enjoyed this sophisticated rhyme. This is how I feel about the "fat cats" in Washington--our ruling class. While they have us bickering about democrat and republican, they hob nob and exchange investment strategies, and make deals with foreign governments. Same old story of power corrupting...
Login to Reply
Lawless Avatar
John Lawless
Date: 12/14/2021 7:01:00 AM
ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!
Date: 12/13/2021 9:00:00 AM
John, very fine monorhyme! I'm sure it's a metaphor, but I'm still trying to unravel all of its meanings. Interesting story on face value, however.
Login to Reply
Lawless Avatar
John Lawless
Date: 12/14/2021 6:57:00 AM
It is a metaphoric traipse through history's repetitive upheavals...and their tormenting sameness
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter