Empty hearts with clever voices, they're the Masters of the game.
Forever preaching from their pulpits who to bless and who to blame.
They speak of God like He's a loan shark - always waiting to be paid.
But the price of your salvation is to be constantly afraid.
So you listen to your masters - fight for oil in some far distant land.
Convinced that it's your duty and you will go to Heaven as you planned
Empty hearts with clever voices, feeding twisted visions to the blind
Greedy men with wicked motives, masquerade as good and kind.
While the rich keep getting richer and the poor don't seem to mind.
Dreaming of some distant Heaven, a paradise they'll never find.
While the blind keep getting blinder convinced that things are going well
The empty hearts with clever voices are busy turning heaven into hell
Why does no-one ever notice that the shepherds hate their sheep?
Employ rabid dogs to scare them while they shiver in their sleep.
And the few who see a glimmer - perhaps a glimpse of what could be...
Always blame God, not the 'Masters'... misunderstanding what they see.
What stops us sitting in the moonlight instead of watching movie stars?
Why does no-one curse the oil-men or the ones who make the cars?
Why does no-one ever listen when you say the world's in pain.
It's because we're all born losers - scared of losing out again.
Yet the things we're holding on to - are the things that make us lose...
So we smoke another cigarette - take another swig of booze.
Another step away from Heaven - another step toward some Hell
Cursing God for all our troubles - wondering why we don't feel well.
And the cars keep getting bigger and the TV's do the same.
So we promise that tommorow - we will start a brand new game.
But you know it just won't happen - resolutions made in vain.
Because we're just born losers - getting sold out once again!
With aknowledgement, apologies and thanks to Kris Kristopherson.
Comments
mykle | March 22, 2008 - 11:35
I was talking to a retired corporate lawyer from Chicago a couple of months ago... not someone I would have expected to get along with.
I was surprised to discover we actualy thought, pretty much, along the same lines.
He told me that almost half the people in the US belived that the ínvasion of Iraq was planned in order to remove Saddam because he was training terrorists. No mention of WMD now it seems.
I told him that at least people back here in the UK were not that brainwashed but that some still believed that the war WAS for the good of the Iraqi people. We both shook our heads.
Upon my return to the UK I was shocked to find that many now believe that Saddam was a member of Al Quaeda and we invaded Iraq to battle the terrorists who would ultimately threaten out sacred shores. Once or twice I tried to point out that IN FACT we were the ones who brought Al Quaeda to Iraq and the original ''reason'' we invaded Iraq was to rid them of weapons of mass destruction such as oil! NOT recommended :O)
With the American economy fast falling into recession you would think that the people might finally wake up and realise that the only ones making any money are Bush's pals in Big oil. Not much chance of that it seems with Mc Cain still using the old Animal Farm trick - shouting
''Don't worry, I'll save you from Snowball!'' while the farm goes to ruin.
mykle | May 10, 2008 - 08:22
Thinking of changing this to "Empty Hearts With Hollow Voices."
I don't think 'hollow' is as close to what I want as 'clever' but "hollow voices" is a nice cliche and I like to use them where I can...
cliches tend to make pieces more accessible to everyone rather than simply catering for a poetic elite who fail to see that poetry isn't simply about finding pretty words to express ambiguity :O)
Makes me laugh when people say "Poetry doesn't sell anymore" as if it is inexplicable that things in High Martian are not well read :O)
Macjoyce | August 10, 2008 - 08:49
This is potentially a very good poem but it needs to scan much better. You seem to have a basic grasp of metre but need to develop your knowledge of it. The lines vary in length.
www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant
Macjoyce | August 10, 2008 - 08:53
"a poetic elite who fail to see that poetry isn't simply about finding pretty words to express ambiguity. Makes me laugh when people say "Poetry doesn't sell anymore" as if it is inexplicable that things in High Martian are not well read."
Hear hear! Well said, sir.
Death to the Free Verse Mafia!
www.myspace.com/norwichfacetransplant
mykle | August 10, 2008 - 12:16
Thanks for your comments, Mac.
I understand what you mean but when I read my stuff it scans okay... If you listen to "Who's To Bless and Who's To Blame" (I think that's the title) by Kriss I think you could easily make the words fit.
Voodoun Romance | August 10, 2008 - 17:53
Mykle,
Wonderful, throught-provoking stuff. And yeah, I prefer this title as opposed to "Hollow voices"; it's what drew me to it.
mykle | August 11, 2008 - 07:35
Thanks for reading and commenting, Voodoun.
I wish I had your talent with words!