TELL HIM

After hours in deep silence and thought,
the old sage turned and said these words,
give this message to the Late Canon’s son.

At his age and with his experience
he should hide his face in his palms

He should do this with disgrace
stop all the righteous displays
of needless and noisy petulance

Though he says he was mislead,
we know gluttony was the honey
that goaded him to political death.

He should freely lie in the bed he made
when he filled his pockets with tainted money.

Now that the people know,
and their anger grows
his name in the rubbish heap goes.

Tell ‘uncle’ to bow his head in retribution and shame,
attempt to rescue his dishonored name,
from this nightmare he thought a game.

Tell the old man to put his hands in the fire
irrespective of the heat,
retrieve his words and pride.

Tell him to stop the disharmony he’s creating,
the masses he’s angering
with his indignant ire.

Tell the Canon’s son he’s fully utilized,
and gone full circle
with the proverbial forty days.

Now it’s time to stand like a man
carry his cross,
face the consequences of his ways.

Corruption Undressed

in the service of the people
an honest heart once was
hurt to see your own marginalized
conditions going from bad to worse

power placed in your hands
to submit the people’s decisions
and the community’s needs
you seemed like their ultimate salvation

your colleagues were hungry
ready to consume the people’s money
pockets overflowing, hands full,
they took all they could

love for your people wavered
money blinded you to their needs
clean hands joined to dirty
hearts beating to the drums of corruption

when friends became foes
you built even higher walls
and bought guns and bulletproof cars
to defend your greed

your guilt needed protection
from the people you were once a part of
a people you lied to
a country you ripped off

now stripped of dignity and pride
your only option is to hide
among friends in the distrusting class
you greed has caused your nakedness.