Why are some men born
With minds that earn degrees
The loving cups
Gilded plaques
Grace their study walls
Hide the cracks
While their genius is turned
To works of tyranny then
Off to market to market
Go selling theseWith words so fiery and persuasive
They steal cunningly
Riches no one can exceedAnd why are some men born
With a fate of poverty
One firm bed
For a swollen back
Year by year
The bodies wracked while
Their obedience is had
With gradual defeat
By the pace by the pace
And the urgencyThrough a muddled thought
They phrase it
God knows we're deceived
Barter for
What they needAnd where they go
Disdain and jeering
For fools to call
The noble peasantryO how it puzzles meI pressed flat the accordion pleats
That had gathered in his cotton sleeves
While he thumbed
Yes thumbed I wouldn't say caressedThe final piece
A mountain's crest
Soon to reply assuredlyO for man aged ninety years
No words to waste on sermons
He'd be pleased to answer
Short and sincereGirl there's a nonsense
In all these heaven measures
It's a heathen creed
So your grandma says
But better to live by
Drink it all in before it's dryHe ended there with a rattle
Cough cough
I took away the long gone cold coffee cup
As a trail of Camel ashes fell
On the floor