Perturbed Voices

At The Top Of The Tree

A Chieftain Observed

Ronald Crumpkin was a bumpkin
And got to the top of the tree
He had a head like the top of a pumpkin
And a brain the size of a pea

He spoke every word in a manner absurd
And his deeds were an absolute farce
He promised the world and the people stirred
But none of it came to pass

Every day in his usual way
He would make a weird proclamation
But the only excuse he could think of to say
Was it’s all for the good of the nation

His lies flowed fast an expensive repast
For all of the innocent flock
The trouble was the truth came last
And the country went into shock

Riots broke out and shattered the peace
As victims started to cry
Yet all he could do was praise the police
And watch the mob pass by

Now anger rose as the saying goes
And discord stirred the masses
RC said we could cure all woes
If we started to eat molasses

That was the level of thought he wrought
Irrelevance was his stance
The land was doomed as a last resort
To be led on his merry dance

But time is the cure all fools must endure
In the end the electors were grim
They chose a new leader of great allure
So wise nothing did surprise him

So the bumpkin faded away that day
To a fate his kind espouses
A career befitting his life you might say
As all he does now is sell houses

Shock Jock

What you are stands over you the while and thunders.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hail to thee spiteful Spirit
No need to be defensive
I understand the reasons you’re offensive
There’s money in it
Your wherewithal is solid as a rock
It is the sordid benefit of shock
So rock on shock jock
Take us down the pathways of disdain
Lead us into conflict for your gain
Let fly with sayings to remember
Carefully choose the virtue to dismember
Bottle up your future in preservative
Proclaim extremes and dreams that are conservative
Find a backer who will pay you well
Let bad intentions line your road to hell
This above all
Befriend the tall with gall as ethics fall
Make enemies crash
With your language rash
Go to extremes when all else seems to have failed
Make sure the Freedom Train’s by you derailed
Cultivate a manner that’s aloof
Abuse all victims who may seek the truth
Shout loudly when your argument is weak
Praise with ardour your sympathetic clique
Always remember what your work is for
You are there to wage a moneyed war
So wound on, disgust, annoy, repel
As you open the door to where your demons dwell

The Brainless Rabbit

There once was a rabbit developed the habit
Of telling the fox what to do
Self-regard was his curse and money was his verse
And pride was his hullabaloo

Now there came a day we are glad to say
When death found some resistance
There was a virus that did require us
To keep a social distance

But the garrulous buck tested his luck
In a manner highly trying
He invited the fox to attend a soirée
And not be afraid of dying

The fox was no fool and these words made him drool
As he sought to endorse a union
While the rabbit’s throng had numbers strong
And engaged with the fox in communion

Now to end this tale you will not fail
If you study the truth for a while
You will note his mirth as the fox roams the earth
Wearing a contented smile

Please Let Me Stay

I now a wanderer who does not wish to roam
I now forced to run away because I’ve lost my home
House is blown apart for us just like my broken heart
Loved ones vanish all at once, in the choke of war
Even my dog is dead
I been seen in many places in the time I fled
So may it please you Sir, as I kneel upon your shore,
Please let me stay

I now a wanderer who does not wish to roam
I now forced to run away because I’ve lost my home
Windows smashed by strangers with rat-tat-tatting guns
Triggers pulled by soldiers, with different coloured skin
Even my dog is dead
I not find a friendly face no matter where I tread
So may it please you Sir, can’t you say “Come in?”
Please let me stay

I now a wanderer who does not wish to roam
I now forced to run away because I’ve lost my home
My school and town no longer there, danger everywhere
Lives destroyed; the old world is no more
Even my dog is dead
I try to be brave so many times, but I only cry instead
So may it please you Sir, as I kneel upon your shore,
Please let me stay

Racism Undermined

Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come.
’ Twas grace that brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead us home. From Amazing Grace

Breathes there a man with soul so dead
Who never to himself hath said
“This is my own, my suffering world,
That cries out for help with each flag unfurled”
To every racist I say in fright
My soul is neither black or white
Yet I am afraid ere the next night comes
Someone for me will beat hostile drums
And complain to the gods above
As enmity turns into hate my love
The cause may be skin or the shape of my eyes
The place of my birth would be no surprise
Or the clothes that I wear, the jobs that I went to
The church where I worship, the school I was sent to
Something will make the rancour burst
As I shrink at first, fearing the worst
My heart will beat faster and I may run away
Malice will be in the very air of the day
Words of hate will make life worse
Gestures of ire will be an overt curse
And I may want to flee the human race
What else can one do to end such disgrace?
How can you ease the pain
To compensate for the disdain?
Then like a star in a troubled sky
The xenophobe will pass by and I won’t question why
As I turn away with a smile on my face
And rejoice in the words of Amazing Grace.

Vulcan

To The Forest-fire Dead

Hail to thee O god of Fire
Marshall of greed and human desire
Sacred the name of your burning soul
Our homage to you is paid with coal

All praise to your image flaming bright
Fountain of profit and earthly delight
Stately the prayers we say unto you
As we give benediction with our CO2

Hear now our vows of fealty told
O great god of flames aglow with gold
Supreme our tribute as we stand by your side
We declare you divine with nitrous oxide*

Hark to our words O supreme being
Symbol of triumph we are now seeing
Hallowed your mission on this earthly terrain
Our devotion will reign with a gift of methane**

Godly fire that lights our way
Fountain of profit, industrial display
Dance in the wind your heavenly caper
Our chimera is a quantum of water vapour

Behold dear godhead let our homage unfold
As your fire signifies vast wealth untold
So pure our love universally seen
For you, graven image of the Anthropocene***

*Nitrous oxide is laughing gas, a sedative

**Methane is a hydrocarbon affecting climate

***The time when human activity has been the main or significant reason for change in the environment.

royciebaby