Saddled with those merely seemingly addled

Think we’re saddled
with Leaders
bumbling, addled
non-readers?

Although they’re not lost at all
merely might have appeared effete
As found abundant their gall
when eager to please The Elite

helping Wall Street get replete
by robbing Main Street deplete

On looks of covers of books

Behold that fresh youthful look:
Youth’s upbeat breathless grin
crisp cover of unread book
sculptured, jutting out chin

Behold the wizened old look:
aging’s out-of-breath grin
thumbed cover of well read book
sagging skin, drooping chin

At which point cannot count on audacity
but hope for tenacity, veracity

Are we all doing our utmost not to boast?

Before sunrise he’d be found
like clockwork our rooster
on his fiefdom’s barnyard mound
as his own best booster

Perhaps wound tightly
but hens find him knightly
Comes across sprightly
takes a stance uprightly

Repeatedly he must crow
to hear his own voice inflection
In dedication aglow
offers, as it is, protection

Aren’t we all doing our utmost
while taking good care not to boast?

Achieving the American Dream just by staying in the slipstream?

Crisp days freshly dawn
hold hope of perfection
But by dusk forlorn
faded in dejection

Takes guts & strength of mind
never just by fingers’ snap
Sounds like same old tired grind
as joy doesn’t sit on our lap

So if we think it can be achieved
by just staying in the slipstream
we’re allowing us to be deceived
lost in that American Dream

where we’re entitled to score
while putting in less, not more