Not Poetry. Quatrain Verse in English & Swedish. Dagsverser. On the Mundane & the Arcane.
Lunatic lies unending
narrative paths twisted
both facts & logic bending
evasions enlisted
Do we prefer lies outrageous
to mere reality obstruction?
In these troubled times contagious
which do offer foremost distraction?
Hard to see a happy ending
to such abomination
Society’s fabric rending
soon falls ‘civilization’!
Meantime more ‘fun’ a neo-fascist autocrat
than some smart, informed, honest, social democrat
If we want to get along
mouth only the mundane
and if we want to belong
stray not in the arcane!
Let others spout their opinion
and just pretend to listen
Act the sycophantic minion
smile, best if our eyes glisten
Avoid these words to get along:
‘ascetic’ & ‘poetic’
Apply in order to belong:
‘athletic’ & ‘cosmetic’
Voice only the prosaic
like ‘we get warm by burning coal’
avoid ‘photovoltaic’
Above all do not bare our soul!
Thus we’ll evade some risk & strife
but will we lead a worthwhile life?
Posting on Internet’s boulder
our stale jokes from hapless heart
while little we care to shoulder
is neither kind, brave or smart
All wrapped around our own
with the ego puffed up tall
nonsense filling our phone
outrageous our naive gall
Oblivious & headstrong
quite heedless of our affliction
merely keeps muddling headlong
largely by lack of conviction
By all means, if we must, act the wag
but please, spare us being such a drag!
People already hapless
buy phones ever smarter
which turns them ever sapless
What a mindless barter!
Never learnt to navigate
so by voice command dialing
let GPS cogitate
On-screen found oh-so beguiling!
Never mind that crisp phones resplendent
make humans ever more dependent …
While the rich get wealthier
with tax breaks, bailed outright even
they get so being stealthier
entitlement they believe in
While the permanent underclass
has throughout history been struggling
this poor willfully ignored mass
needs for its daily needs be juggling
Still: Beyond roof over heads & food on their tables
rich & poor alike indulge sports & celeb fables
We do deserve a handout
our plight of course sui generis
Awaiting our next bailout
so make it quick & generous!
As we’re selling lipstick
we implore & ask
as we all have a shtick:
Please, don’t wear a mask!
Or wear one of see-through type plastic
would support our business fantastic!
+)
-bailout = Covid 19 $$ compensation
-sui generis = unique; not like anyone or anything else
To think before talking
would be way too burdensome
could cause awkward balking
stymie instant words from some
Freedom must not be infringed
let’s keep up incessant spurting!
Whatever notions unhinged
must not be found disconcerting!
Scant by now any wish to acquaint
ourselves with what smells of self-restraint
When a car drives by
‘Diminutive Doggie’
gives instant chase. Why?
Due to thinking foggy
Feels compelled to chase
she runs off & away
with more grit than grace
looks not much like ballet
While chases with plenty pluck
stirring up dusty buzz
still hasn’t caught a car or truck
And if she ever does:
here we pose a stupendous stumper
would she lick or bite the rear bumper?
In this world newfangled
the roots of inequality
run deep, twisted, tangled
enmeshed in frivolity
Kept the hope of the poor stifled
while by the powerful rifled
Q: “Why are you not putting on a mask?”
A: “I’m not culpable for your health
I’m self-reliant, so do not ask
also won’t be blamed for my wealth!”
If this is how some of us are
how did we stray so deep & far?
Q: “Still thinking we’re better than this?”
A: “We’re no effete Swedes or feeble French
so, World, come give U.S. a kiss!”
(albeit amidst conceited stench)
Thus we keep up the narrative:
Pretending to empathize
high-handed & declarative
averting our empty eyes
Masklessness leaves the Covid threat cowardly vague
while masked have we not faced that we’re all in a plague?