Bellman

By Cliff Lake

 

Bellman

 

Once he stood without the gates,

This warrior with pointed pen.

Now against the keeper throws his weight,

Now his pocket he defends.

 

And the people cry:

 

You, bellman,

Whom do you abandon?

There your sister is,

Crying beneath her veil.

You, pressman,

Turned your back on your brother,

And allowing rescue to fail.

 

A jester now, a simpering minion,

The public emotion toying.

A marionette flaying opinion,

Falsely proclaiming to the accompaniment of coin.

 

Hear the people cry:

 

You, bellman,

Have you forgotten now,

Your sister weeps beneath her cowl.

You, pressman,

Back to your post,

Why with the wolves you howl?

 

Why do you fan the flame,

The world has too long burned!

What virtue can you claim?

Take back the honor you once earned.

 

And my people cry:

 

You, bellman,

Whom do you abandon?

There your sister is,

Crying beneath her veil.

You, pressman,

Turned your back on your brother,

And allowing rescue to fail.

 

And my people cry…

Can you hear the people cry?

Pressman… ?

 

Cliff Lake 7/8/2024

Copyright © Clifford Lake 2024

Location: Washington, DC, USA

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