Maybe Stop Telling This Man What He Wants
#16 of poetry
I wrote a lot of angry poetry in 2020, ok?
"Man wants but little here below
Nor wants that little long."
How often hath that platitude
Been strangled into song?
By men who do not want, but have
Their little and their more.
In rhymes perforce, in meter bad,
They serve it to the poor.
"Contentment in a humble home,"
They preach to homeless men,
"Is best." Then purchase palaces,
As many as they can.
"Thy simple bread and wine is more,"
To those who starving wait,
"Delightsome than delicacies!"
As they refill their plate.
"Humility! Forgiveness!"
To the millions they have wronged.
And would not even notice if
The last of us were gone.
If man doth want so little
Then little it should be
For these mighty and strong to give
Our needs to you and me.
Man wants but little here below.
My wants are only one:
Take every scrap of doggerel.
Force them to eat each one.