The Colbert Retort

By Cliff Lake

The Colbert Retort

 

Suppression,

Repression,

Transgression.

The bully in the hotseat makes complaint and –

 

“FREEDOM!” they cry,

Let the denigration mantras ring! –

As long they sound their own chosen targets…

God forbid an unwanted truth be spake –

Disinformation bubbles are fragile.

 

Epithet, epithet, epithet,

Disparage, defame, and deride,

What fun when directed at people

You already don’t like.

Let no return be made!

Let no fact reply!

The thinner the skin,

The deeper the pierce.

 

What night-call dares defy?

What compare spoken in dare?

What mock made in the night?

What easy observation thwarts?

Here is a tongue needing cut!

Here is a voice requiring choke!

Here are wings craving clip!

A cull is called for.

 

Suppression,

Repression,

Transgression.

The bully in the hotseat makes complaint and –

 

O ye corporate craven,

Power is a granted thing,

And knees begin to ache when bent too quickly,

And too often.

 

See the rulebook you accepted,

See the censors accepted,

See the narrow focus,

See the ratings that generate profit,

See the bottom line hacked at cowardly,

See the bribe that bought you derision,

Disapproval,

Disgust.

You did not fail to fail.

 

What lesson is this?

Capitulation is never rewarded with respect,

It serves only to prompt yet more demand.

 

Guidelines and goads got rid of,

Restraints removed,

Caution combusted,

This is punishment?

Too enslaved you are to the profit report.

Too impressed you are with your arena.

Other venues exist,

Other fields more open.

You have not trimmed the wings –

You have opened the door and

 

The uncaged bird sings louder.

 

Cliff Lake 7/19/2025

Copyright © Clifford Lake 2025

Location: 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 51 W 52nd St, New York, NY 10019, USA

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