Ode to a Moral Country
I was helping my daughter with an English assignment in which she needed to write a poem in iambic pentameter, styled after Marc Antony’s funeral oration for Caesar. She was having trouble getting started, so I wrote her a sample to illustrate how this could go. For grins, I thought I’d present it here:
Ode to a Moral Country
Concerned about the future? Have no fears
I come to bury what we think – so sad
Our celebrations tell us that we’re good
I’m sure I’m just a cynic – oh — my bad
We treat the sick when money’s to be made
Insurance companies lobby Congress pure
To keep their mighty profit streams alive
But we’re a moral country to be sure
We back the crim’nal acts of Israel
Illegal occupations, lend a hand
But can’t we simply cut the flow of cash?
Don’t think too hard cause we’re a moral land
Troop levels triple since Barack’s inaug
A campaign promise he would clearly drop
New loads of men to fight the Taliban
But is it sane to think the wars will stop?
Wall Street bankers take us for a ride
Smoke cigars while common folks endure
Don’t hold your breath for meaningful reform
But we’re a moral country, to be sure.
Tea party thinking has to rule the day
But has the hate speech really helped us yet?
Incendiary talk show hosts are cool
We take moral high ground, not to fret
Without campaign reform we have no prayer
We’re hamsters on a wheel; we’re really through
Our future’s gone, just stick us with a fork
I may be just a cynic – how bout you?
Poignant! You’re a multi-talented Renaissance man, Craig. I see songwriting and spandex-clad stadium tours in your future. 🙂
Ha! Lord, I hope not. I’d have to diet, and that’s not me.
Hope you did well on the poem, Val. Maybe
you won a prize, like a T-shirt from Miloh: http://www.miloh.us.
Yes, those t-shirts are ultra cool, to be sure.