Best Lower Orders Poems
I almost trashed an anhinga in the middle of a street
leading out to the highway from our copycat
barrier island: sibling of another it resides beside,
curling around the end of the Florida coast as far north
as North can go, where this part of our universe
spells Home. "What's an anhinga?" my visiting northern
friend asks, a query her southern friend takes to task--
no Emperor Bird in frosty Vermont.
Anhinga: a fish-eating diving bird with an elongated neck
and sharp bill that inhabits the warmer freshwater regions
of North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia,
lot of A's here for an A-rated equestrian, sometimes
called "snake bird" for its awesome appendage between girth
and head; "neck" not a word noble enough to describe
his body part mostly assigned to lower orders that creep
and crawl. Demonic gray, angelic demeanor, the anhinga
spreads blessing while he sits at the edge of my
neighbor's dock, wings wide out to a warm morning
sun, Jesus worship, anhinga style.
I did not trash an anhinga in the middle of the road,
grateful it was bird, not lowly toad, easy to spot
his important neck so there was no eminent wreck,
when he crossed slow motion from one side to the other
of miniscule lakes at our entrance. Kingly fisher
of dugout waters, too large and handsome for any
cover, as I halted my ride, he gave me one grave and
quizzical look, then satisfied he would not be took,
returned majestically to the pond he just quit
Royal bird of noblesse oblige, no matter the offensive
of manmade machines, for the good of us all,
and our entire physical world, You, emperor entity,
beautiful and live, you must needs survive.
for Elise
Just Tom and Mabel in the village,
No honorific ever known,
Too far down the pecking order for
Such respect to be shown.
Like so many in that village
My Dad and Mam worked on
A still almost feudal system
Wage slavery not yet gone.
Oh, they were respected,
Looked up to in their way
For their ability to work
An honest long hard day,
But, bottom of the pecking order,
Kept firmly in their place
Part of the lower orders
Workers of the Human Race.
Like any good parents did
They made sacrifices for their child
Which I realise now I repaid
By being unruly, rebellious, wild.
Somehow I survived
In spite of my attitude
And I really think i did
Try to show them my gratitude.
Tried to stand tall for my beliefs
Be an honest and reliable man
And, just like my Mam and Dad be
As true and honest as a body can
Still way down the pecking order
In my allocated style and place
I bowed my head to no man,
looked them squarely in the face.
There were times of hardship
Time when it was rough
But like my Mam and Dad I coped,
Survived when the going got tough
It was that example they set me
That helped me to be able,
Still proud many years later to
Be the son of Tom and Mabel.
Oh for the days of Merrie England
When each peasant knew their place
To ensure the upper orders lived
in style, comfort and grace.
All bowed the head and bent the knee
And thus by doing so
Ensured the continuance of a just
and Rightful Statius Quo.
Long live our noble leaders and may
They all continue to believe
Their power, privilege and position
Gives them the right to thieve.
God bless the lower orders
For acceptance of their situation
Long may they continue to be
Such ready subjects of exploitation.
Oh for those days of glory
For so long not seen
When only the poor and simple
Had holes in their jeans.
Oh for those Merrie England Days
We’re working towards getting back.
We’re not quite there yet
But we’re on the right track
Welcome to My Shopping Plaza
Reserved purely for the best,
Entry initially is only by passing
Our Received Pronunciation Test,
Closely followed by meeting
Our test of personal wealth.
(No well spoken impoverished
Slipping in by stealth.)
When it comes to shortlisting
I’m afraid you’ll be needing
More than adequate proof of
Good blood and good breeding.
Be assured everything we sell
Is the epitome of nice
You’ve evaded our selection if
You have to ask the price.
We’ve taken every precaution to
Ensure the elite can enjoy
An afternoon of leisured shopping
Away from the common Hoi Poloi.
We d no bias again the lower orders
Most of them behave quite well
And, to be strictly honest only
A minority of them actually smell.
The working class in fact do have
Their place and their use
Even if they do at times require
Protection from our abuse.
Oh, God’s still in his Heaven and
His work is more than complete
When affording privilege and style
To that deserving wealthy elite.
There’s nothing wrong with equality
In fact I’ll give it a toast
So long as they accept that some
Are more equal than the most.
Once your membership is accepted
All our facilities are free
On receipt of course, of our modest
Annual renewal Fee.
We do ask members to accept
That if they bring a guest
They too are expected to pass
Our modest membership test
Welcome to my Shopping Plaza
Safe in the knowledge that’s it’s true
It’s designed for the convenience of
That deserving minority just like you.