Word of the Day Challenge #95-Untitled Poem

He was a great man

he was a beast

He helped all he came to him

he stole from those 

needing aid

He beget an empire

children of whores

He reigned with selflessness

he ruled with blood

iron maiden

killing his dissidents

his enemies.

He slew the innocent

gave voice to evil

clapped the devil on the back

black lit deals

money in the casket

leaving all others to cry

war mongering

battle lines drawn

time to batten down.

Top to bottom

great man

praises sung

an obituary

full of lies

we knew the truth

we knew the reality

history will not be replayed

it was his time to die

of that I was sure.

©March 24/20

Picture is my own

Subvert

**I submitted two poems to The New Yorker. This is one of the two. I obviously was rejected but I can say with pride I was rejected by The New Yorker.***

There is an evil rot within

leaching from the heart

any illusion

that there remains some good.

Time and time again

it has been proven

that society has become doomed

trading away

ethics

morals

basic humanity.

Twisting and subverting

with each falsehood told

embraced

with zeal

religious fevor

becoming the very demon

decried as the enemy.

We have failed.

We have lost our way.

One by one

we have been corrupted

by lies

by slight of hand

and the tears that are wept

fall between the cracks

in this desert land.

©Feb. 23/18

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash