There is a little land that's built on sand in the Middle East
To listen to the world complain, you'd think it was a beast
Yet it's more diverse, and dynamic, than the USA
100+ countries immigrants' flourish there today
As for democracy, why there's nothing to compare
Fully 20 parties over there vie for electoral shares
Freedom of--not from--religion is absolutely guaranteed
And no one's made to recite a pledge
To a flag he can't believe
Minorities ARE protected there; they make a real impact
Arab statesman constitute 10% of Parliament, in fact...
By now you've surely guessed the country that I've yet to name
For to even say the word today can get you killed or maimed
But eventually the truth will out, as it always does:
Those who bang the drums today for tiny Israel's death
Will come tomorrow to recant their misguided shibboleths
Villanelle : It's all been said said better and bolder before
It's all been said said better and bolder before
Worse now most repeat over and over again
No shibboleths now to test smooth words more hollow
Those who trouble not to delve into sages yore
Make not but weak links in the derivative chain
It's all been said said better and bolder before
Those who toiied without e'en recompense for valour
Toiled for insights ripped out of seething guts in pain
No shibboleths now to test smooth words more hollow
Homer Murasaki Valmiki Boccaccio
Gilgamesh Beowulf Pillow Sei Shonagon
It's all been said said better and bolder before
How much the " creative " writing courses ignore
Those whose suffering wrought talents in deep dungeon
No shibboleths now to test smooth words more hollow
The reign of digital maths spells poiein woe
Business minds now serve as mid-wives during birth-pain
It's all been said said better and bolder before
No shibboleths now to test smooth words more hollow
© T. Wignesan - Paris, 2018
COPLA SESENTA Y CUATRO: This Bad Guy World
No one denies Life’s stunning rich
What we all have to put up with:
Stark sacrifice
Spite of beast in Man or the Witch
Brains soar limitless heights or width:
As gods we rise
Bad Guys drag us down ugly depths
Role Good Guys must accept as fun:
Who stands to blame
Yin-Yang conflicts not shibboleths
From dying bored stiff keeps Man:
The crying shame
© T. Wignesan – Paris, 2014
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