It's All the Rage

“It's a pretty good racket, this demagogue thing,”
He says, as he rises to refresh his drink. “You find
Someone harmless to throw to the peasants, a woman,
A refugee, someone who's black. You fan their
Resentment of those they despise. Then you glide
Into palaces to be applauded by oligarchs, who
Pay your bills with a chuckle. They love what you do.
A peasant may briefly resent those above them,
But, mostly, they're cowards, and any good demagogue
Knows how to turn them against the defenseless.
The world will rotate. The peasants are fleeced.
The oligarchs profit, and where are my manners?
I've just fixed a drink. I will fix one for you.
We can toast my success. Long live silver-
Tongued orators, slush funds and payoffs,
And peasants too stupid to think!”



Poetry by Lawrence Beck The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 211 times
Written on 2019-03-29 at 01:18

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