Village
There once was a village where everyone shared
_whenever another had need.
The folks in that place were all so filled with grace
_and joy in the absence of greed.
One evening a clown strode into the town
_his face covered up with a mask.
He hid his desire, their means to acquire,
_avoiding all those who might ask.
He feigned eager friendship with all those he met
_while planning his plunder to stash.
He swindled and stole and found ways to cajole
_their elderly out of their cash.
The people were saddened and many were maddened
_by misery caused by that lout
Then one day a farmer in bountiful armor
_made certain he found his way out.
Jan Mennite lives on the California Central Coast and is a semi-retired tax professional.
Jan, this is an outstanding poem with a strong message, perfect meter, and great rhyme. There are so many cases of stealing money meant for the elderly these days by politicians that are clowns all across the country. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Thank you for your kind, encouraging words, Roy. They mean a lot to me. It’s heartbreaking to learn of an elderly person losing everything they’ve worked all their lives to save, and of taxpayers of entire communities and states with billions stolen…and their “leaders” culpable.
Alas, it’s incidents like this that destroy communities and breed suspicion of our neighbours.
Thanks for the read, Jan.
Agreed, Paul…and you’re welcome. Thanks for the comment.
Sometimes it might take a village, but more often it takes a hero. Are there any stout farmers left in California? If so, then Gavin Newsom better watch his ass.
Sure hope so. 🙂
Yes, they’re the ones selling at the farmers’ markets, doing much of the work themselves, and not those hiring others to do the hard work.
I like the farmer in “bountiful” armor to contrast with the masked clown. One exemplifies the village “grace” and the other displays the “greed” unfamiliar in this once-upon-a-time place. Your storybook rhythm, Jan, carries the story very effectively.
Thank you, Margaret, for your comment, for your kind words. In a rewrite I will use ‘with’ with bountiful armor; 🙂 I was thinking about 2A and why preserving it matters so much.
Thanks for your comment, Margaret, and for your kind words. If I rewrite it, I’ll use ‘with’ with bountiful armor. I was thinking of 2A and why it matters so much.
It’s quite a task to bring together immaculate artistry, musicality and storytelling! This piece gave me the feeling of “Pied Piper of Hamelin” and “The Deserted Village” – the latter being very much similar to the tone and theme.
Thanks for creating a gem.
Thank you, Satyananda, for your kind, thoughtful, and inspiring words. I treasure them.
Many a present-day lesson could be learned from this poem that reads like a poetic parable… and it’s about time a farmer was held up as the hero in world that makes it so tough for farmers to survive. Jan, thank you!
You’re most welcome, Susan! Thanks so much for your kind comment! I appreciate the description, “poetic parable,” and heartily agree with you on farmers and their struggles in a world where so many have lost touch with what it takes to keep them nourished.