Kenneth Cheney Poet Free verse

The Dread of Farmer Fred

I went to visit Farmer Fred
Found him out in his wood shed
He was splitting up some oak
As I approached, he paused and spoke

“When I was young, I served my country and was willing to give my life for what I believed this country stood for.”
“Today I’d give my life to protect my family from what this country has become.”

I looked at Fred a bit askance
And he could see at a glance
That he should explain his new stance

‘We will bury you’ is coming to fruition.”
“Our country is becoming the very thing I fought against.”
“Pravda had nothing on the propagandist news in our nation.”
“Give it any name or label you will, government control over people has failed “the people” throughout human history.”
“I do not hold that government is evil, rather power which is corrupting and evil.”
“It has always been about power over others.”
“Kings, Emperors, Chancellors, Prime Ministers, and Presidents all abuse it.”
“Using government power to control others by controlling their means of earning and amassing wealth.”
“Feudalism, Socialism, Communism, Fascism, all place government at the top and make all people beholden to government.”
“Free market capitalism was the only exception.”
“Some played it better than others and acquired more wealth and wealth is power.”
“Thus, the role of government should be to check that power by ensuring the playing field and rules were applied equally.”
“All men are created equal, not all outcomes should be equal.”

I hold my hand up
Fred paused quite abrupt
With a pained look like please don’t interrupt 

“I will simply say, we are no longer ‘The land of the free and home of the brave’ rather the land of the aggrieved and home of the knave.”

This was all he had to say
Fred dropped his ax and walked away

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Madathil Nair August 9, 2022 at 9:41 AM I can empathize with Fred and the poet. As usual, a riveting write. The Wordsworthian lament "Oh, what man has made of man" echoes all through. Best wishes.

Kim Rodrigues July 9, 2021 at 3:55 PM Farmer Fred speaks the truth!

Andrea Dietrich June 18, 2021 at 9:51 AM this is very true. Thanks for your genius insight. I dub this a FAVE

Harry Horsman June 13, 2021 at 11:13 PM Wow, love this political truth serum, Kenneth, i believe it belongs to every nation on the planet today, The new era (1980) is now reaping what it sowed. Thank goodness there are those (Poet) mainly that voice the way it has become, the way it is...To my Favourites this goes.