an unusual career path…

copyright cwmartin 2011

he’s a madman
don’t want
no canonization
just wants
his cheap wine
and a pack
of lucky strikes
all this talk
of salvation
has made him
make a proclamation
heaven is full
of useless saints
quite willing
to welcome you in
but
while earthly bound
you’re on your own
so he’d rather have
cheap wine
and a pack
of lucky strikes
don’t need no
door-to-door prophets
nor cartoons
depicting heaven
that no one’s seen
but he’s seen the news
while in the liquor store
’bout the state of the world
and
all the dire predictions
’bout most of mankind
and he’s seen
politicians come and go
making the same damn promises
everytime
sold
bought
and never delivered
to hapless voters
so he chooses
to be a madman
don’t need no canonization
just cheap wine
and a pack
of lucky strikes

today for you almost free…

these trinkets
offered
along the street of life
by politicians
are yours
for
the exceptionally
low price
of
your soul
just
give up your
concern for others
and
have a new highway
or
even better yet
more overpaid
government jobs
for
friends
and
for
yourself
just
trade-in
that old belief
in humanitarianism
and get
a new
and improved
egocentric life
to hell
with healthcare
for the poor
when greed is standing
at your door
as well
as voters’
votes
let’s cut your taxes
and weave
an outdoor mud room rug
from the souls crushed
by your selfishness
and
today
it’s
almost
free