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It Must Be True
In The Jungle Book Kipling describes the “Bandar-log”—the monkeys of
the Seeonee Jungle—whose scatterbrained chatter is epitomized by their
slogan, “We are great… We are the most wonderful people in all the
jungle! We all say so, and so it must be true.”
She’s wonderful, she’s fabulous, she’s perfect through and through.
We all repeat it constantly, and so it must be true.
She reads a teleprompter well, and perfectly on cue.
Except for public interviews, there’s nothing she can’t do.
She’s Joan of Arc, she’s Princess Di, and Maya Angelou.
She’s Nightingale, and Hillary, and Oprah Winfrey too.
Her media appearances are far between and few,
and yet she somehow never gets a negative review.
Although she’s been around for years and much in public view,
We all declare in unison that suddenly she’s new.
If not so long ago we said she doesn’t have a clue,
We now rescind the thought and say we laud her high IQ.
To disagree with what we think is utterly taboo,
And since we know we’re right we censor any other view.
She simply must be put in charge, and no one else will do.
We all repeat it all the time, and so it must be true.
.
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Daniel Freeman divides his time between Great Britain and the United States. As a poet and endurance athlete, he has written numerous poems and completed many marathons and ultra-marathons, supporting both passions while serving as a health care worker in various parts of the US.
Worthy of Gilbert or Porter.
Many thanks, Julian!
You’ve got it right, Mr Freeman…sadly!
Thank you, Peg. Yes, it is sad!
This poem is delightful — and it doesn’t make the mistake of being vague or understated in its sarcasm. It hits hard, it takes a clear position, and it doesn’t try to be nice. And putting the whole thing into the voice of one of The Cackling Cow’s supporters is especially effective.
Using monorhyme is also a good way to hit the points home — like John Henry driving steel home with blows of his hammer.
Thank you, Joseph, for your comments. I appreciate all of them, and especially like your image of John Henry using his hammer. That’s a great way to think of monorhyme!
This admirably wrought, topical poem brings to mind the quote: “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.” – great stuff!
Thank you, Susan. I appreciate your comment, and I’m glad to hear the poem suggests that quote to you – I was aiming for that effect.
Objectivity certainly is something that’s increasingly being lost in elections.
Thanks for your comment, Paul. I agree!
Fantastic poem Mr. Freeman – you totally nailed the all-encompassing BS being promoted by those who insist that they alone are dealing with facts.
Many thanks, Russel. “All-encompassing BS” is an apt description!
From the great quote at the beginning to the extremely well-conceived concept and adept sarcasm we know that this is true!
Thank you for your kind words, Roy!
A delightful idea, Daniel, to connect The Jungle Book characters, and their know-it-all declaration of their own superiority, with this preposterous candidate (and her parroting media slaves). And you carried out the idea so well. I, too, hear the monorhyme as perfectly appropriate for the subject. It must have been fun to make your initial list of rhyming words (“taboo” is the most fun!)
Thank you, Cynthia. I especially appreciate your comment about “know-it-all declaration of their own superiority.” That nicely captures much of what I was hoping to portray. Yes, it was a lot of fun to come up with rhyming words!
I like using monorhyme for making points as well,
and if you ever add some details, let’s say, one or two,
I think, because of who this is, another rhyme that works,
to which her mentor, Willie Brown, will testify, is – BLEW!
A very gratifying read, Daniel, thanks for the effort.
Thanks, Mark. That’s a hilarious suggestion!
In an evolutionary scenario, of which Kipling could have been aware, monkeys were creatures of a lower order than human beings. That seems to touch your instinctive group-think poem as well, Daniel, with another partly hidden level of satire.
Thank you, Margaret, for your insightful comment.
Too funny. This is a thoroughly entertaining poem and I appreciate the jungle book theme, which fits the subject matter so perfectly. Great job!
Thank you, Yael!