Feudal Futility

Masters lounge within
walled compounds
overseeing fruits picked
by thick fingers.
Blistered backs and souls
toil the land for meager rewards
while their benefactors
dine on swine
and wine.

The masses swell and do tell
of elsewhere when with full
stomachs they danced
in vineyards of old.
Listen for the sound 
of their bare feet
as they pound
upon the ground with muffled
steps in sparse moments
found in perfect contentment.

Reviews

[shallimarRose]

This is very poignant I think.. I use to live where we had orchards on three sides of our home.. the pickers worked till their fingers bled in the hot son while some of them were living in an old house down the street with no electricity or running water.. I think this is sort of about the sweat shops also... Good strong topic.. You had me at the title.. shallimarRose

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much Rose. Some seem destined to live lives that wear them to the bone while others get fat off their efforts. I appreciate your review.

[Creepy Swine Guy]

This is very relevant, sadly ... relevant. You would have thought that we were beyond such times. But there seems to be a pull (which I shall leave un-named) that seems to want to ptake us back to those times.

[icelandicblue]

I agree CSG it seems we never really evolve no matter how much "progress" we make. Thanks for reading and commenting.

[Baby Ricochet]

Love it! Reads kind of like something I might have wrote, but without all the swearing.

[icelandicblue]

You are too funny, thanks BR.

[Rita L. Sev]

Every era of humanity has had its kings and its servants, whatever they were called. So few get to dine on that swine, yet they rule all, don't they? A thoughtful piece, Blue.

[icelandicblue]

Hi Rita,
So very true. Thanks so much.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

interesting how pertinent this is to now...things the more they change, they certainly do stay the same...

a lot of us feel like feudal slaves doing it all so the few can kick back with their feet up...and enjoy the benefits of our hard work.

[icelandicblue]

So true, I was thinking of the upcoming Labor Day and a news piece I saw where a man who worked for Burger King for 9 years hasn't had a raise in something like 7 years because he makes minimum wage. Thanks so much for reading and commenting.

[Sheila Kline]

And to those who have such memory, "those were the good of days" before another came with their rule.
The masses must obey the masters to have their needs fulfilled - sad as it is!
An interesting write which makes us realize this still exists in many lands, and to a point even here as we must often follow the rules of fools!

[icelandicblue]

Love that, follow the rule of the fools! Thanks, Sheila.

[Jack...]

Sad, but in so many cases true. The days beforem when the sun shined and we were happy, memories that often brings tears to their eyes, but very little hope. Very nicely done Anne.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks Jack. Life's been hard for about 2.3 million years I think. No reason to think it will get easier. ;) Thanks for commenting.

[Dr. Wood ?]

I LOVE this....Dine on swine and wine....absolutely spot ON

[icelandicblue]

Thank you again Doc for reading and commenting.

[Dr. Wood ?]

no bother...It was worth the visit Ice

[外人 (Gaiji..]

interesting poem, nice job :)

[icelandicblue]

Thanks for reading.

[外人 (Gaijin)]

thx for writing :)