Taking Wooden Nickles

A poem about our times.

She is seated on “The Horse of Many Colors”

With her red, white, and blue entourage.

They are the ones paying Pipers with wooden nickels

And the Pipers, they are dressed in camouflage.

"A dollar for a Doughboy!" She cries aloud.

"A kingdom for my horse might work as well!

We need currencies that have no substance to them

And their phones will be the ways to buy and sell."

Then they bid her, "Lift up the Staff of Inquisition,

With McCarthy written on it, bold and bright!

Let justice ride “The Horse of Another Color”

For when they rule, only one is always right!"

Walk softly, for her sticks are always bigger,

And the deficit grows greater with each war.

She keeps us safe by the blood of our children

And by the blood of our children, she'll want more.

Here they come, waving banners overhead

While preaching hate in another robocall.

If Liberty's light --- is our true source of freedom

Then why do shadows linger within the justice hall?

JE Falcon

02-23-2016

Rev. 7-30-2022

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

A theme on the worst of our times....a divided country acceptable, to many who fear for their lives...insurrection... radical, mobs, sword-slinging, half thinking wimps tearing up our government; yet the statue of liberty stands tall, but who is she protecting?
Good for discussion,
Best, B

[JE Falcon]

Thanks, Betty, I fear social media has a lot to do with how we see the world today.

[Betty Hermelee]

Yes indeed... and too much!!!
You're very welcome!!

[Toni.S]

Love it. I always make referrals to wooden nickles. I love the camouflaged pipers, another reference of mine. Paying the pipers with wooden nickles is a double act of stupidity, for both parties.

The shadow side of the USA is definitely upon us.

Great Write.

[JE Falcon]

Much thanks.

[Relic]

I often wonder what our country would be like without the internet. It seems like a entire country is getting their information from their phones and that information is always suspect. We're living in a weird time when destruction and corruption are always waiting in the wings. Or should I say the halls.

[JE Falcon]

It is true, that before the World Wide Web we were a nation where mainstream ideas were almost all that saw the light of day. But now we have people ripe with logic-less thoughts coming out of the woodwork, and their only agenda seems to be that they are the leader of something angry. Which, if you look at history, it will tell you that all they'll accomplish is death and destruction, then comes defeat. Hitler and Mussolini are prime and obvious examples.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are right my friend.
"Here they come, waving banners overhead
While preaching hate in another robocall.
If Liberty's light --- is our true source of freedom
Then why do shadows linger within the justice hall?"
The above lines. Solid and so damn good. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry and your thoughts.
Coyote

[JE Falcon]

My thanks to you, Coyote. --- Have a great one!

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome my friend.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

What a great allegory to discuss the state of where we are.
Lots of phonies who say they are for America, equality, freedom....

but so much B.S. it is hard to navigate through it all...this poem does a nice job of doing that.
j.

[JE Falcon]

Thanks, Jacob, this poem is meant to promote discussion.

[William Michael Reeves]

Holy cow! Like time travel. Your wordage had me feeling antique qualities juxtaposed with modern contrivances. From an inquisition to the judgement of social media. Banners and horses and pipers, preaching over the phone. For some reason I thought about the basketball star on trial in Russia. More interesting stuff JE

[JE Falcon]

Thanks, we try. :)

[Chris Shaw]

Your final two lines say it all Falcon. You have your problems over the pond, but we have ours too. There are shadows in many places these days.

Chris

[JE Falcon]

Too True, sadly. So far, this century is becoming a copy of the last.

[Chris Shaw]

We aren't in a good place, that's for sure :(