keys drumming rare morning lazy humming odd whispers open chain urge ghosts
Chains and Mud
They know, of course,
That their good life
Is supported by those
Living in chains and mud—
But living somewhere else.
Those living in chains and mud
And the ghosts of those
Who preceded them
Keep the machines
Running, humming along.
Money machines.
It has always been so.
On the rare occasions
Of friction, with radicals
Drumming up dissent,
Urging rebellion,
The barons dub them lazy
In pointed editorials.
Should those below
Wish the odd morning off
The tame press divides them,
Spreads whispers of betrayal,
And trust vanishes.
The chains remain intact.
Those with the keys
To open them
Have no intention
Of it being otherwise.
◊
Good strong political poetry. Well depicted, strong imagery.
ReplyDeleteThe imagery is vivid, and the narration feels timeless. I believe this expresses one of humanity’s enduring truths: some people build their comfort on the blood, tears, and sweat of others.
ReplyDeleteYa speaking nothing but truth there!! As Thoreau said about the train, "Once the smokes blows over, few will be riding but most will be run over" Great poem! 💜
ReplyDeleteThis is so powerful!
ReplyDeleteI loves how you manage to incorporate the twelve words so seamlessly; they never seem to be bolted on or forced in some way.
ReplyDeleteExcellent writing! You caught the truth.
ReplyDeleteThose with the keys
ReplyDeleteTo open them
Have no intention
Of it being otherwise.
A pity those destined to be 'chained' remain so as the powerful would not free them. Wonderful write Cosmo!
Hank
On point and up my alley. You are a little more restrained than I - possibly for the better 👍 Great write Cosmo 👏
ReplyDeletePowerful and true and if you ask the ones up there "it's just the way the world works"...
ReplyDeleteGah. This is it exactly. I remember a young woman I know visiting South America, coming back outraged, saying "we are living on their backs." Money, power and greed. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." We are seeing that reality now so clearly.
ReplyDeleteAlas... and modern slavery is just with other more subtle chains.
ReplyDeleteThis quite simply could not be more timely!!! Well done and Bravo!
ReplyDeleteAnd yet nothing has changed...
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think a good life must be supported by someone else's living "in chains and mud"? What evidence have you seen for this belief? Does your income come from people living in chains and mud, or from well-off people who buy your product?
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ones_Who_Walk_Away_from_Omelas
DeleteWho and where are your Omelas children? In a sweat shop in Bangladesh? An Amazon warehouse? A rare earth mine in Africa?