Sunday, February 15, 2009

And What About Peter

This article is inspired by Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged and my belief that there's a certain poetic justice to our current state of affairs. It's my first attempt at poetry. Please be kind.

And What About Peter

In a world where it's commonplace to rob Peter to pay Paul.
Does anybody ever wonder what Peter thinks of it all?

Does he accept that it's okay to bear the burden of our need?
Or would he rather we not be the reason why he bleeds?

Do you ever think of what it'd be like for you to stand in his place?
To toil and slave for others with no hope for saving grace?

Do you wonder how it feels to be the sacrificial lamb?
Or do you just take all you can get and never give a damn?

And what about Peter's needs? Aren't they as important as mine?
Why should he be willing to share with those who beg and whine?

Do you think that he should take pride in all that he has earned?
Or should he hide what he's achieved to avoid getting burned?

What will we do when comes the day when he has had enough?
When he decides at long last to heave a mighty shrug?

When he decides to rise above that lonely place of shame?
Where we have left him all alone to carry all the blame?

What will become of us at last once he has turned his back?
And we are left without support to carry our own slack?

Well maybe then we'll finally see the true evil of it all,
And turn away from this game we play of robbing Peter to pay Paul!


I want ice water.

2 comments:

  1. have you heard of a book called "ismael" by daniel quinn? reading your poem it occurred to me that you might really like it. it breaks down many societal 'norms' by showing how they are very recent to human history.

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  2. I'm not sure if this is the way to respond, but thank you for the suggestion. I will look it up.

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