we cut our teeth reciting pledges,
innocents, reeking of privilege,
wagons hitched to dead stars, dangling
o’er fields gained by sly finagling
sworn allegiance to vain pipe dreams
promises bigger than they seem
dare not question how, why, where?
the what’s don’t matter, for’s don’t care
following suits, confess, repent
incorruptible, heaven sent
slaying the many for the few
to give the piper king his due
try to set sheep and goats apart
but evil lurks in ev’ry heart.

kat ~ 4 November 2016