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The Rebel
| Open Poetry #14 |
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The Rebel |
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Paul B New Member
since 2001-06-12
Posts 8Limassol, Cyprus |
Thank you all so much for your beautiful replies! I am sorry I could not answer them all because of the work I have today (a Literature exam  )!It's a fable, partly inspired by Animal Farm. The moral at the end is meant to be a false one. The Rebel The farm was poor. The food was rare. Too little hay, too little slushy mash. The animals were living in despair, And grumbled that the destiny was harsh. The pigs were skinny, yet the cows were fat. The latter were the strongest in the barn. They swayed the public, keeping pigs in mud, Poor porkers suffered under their arm. They all submitted, save a single boar, A Maximus, who did declare aloud: ‘The devils must repent of our gore. Arise ye porkers, and awake the crowd! ‘Rebel! Revolt! Progress without remorse! Those who can bully turn to bully beef. Forget your fright – our lives cannot be worse! Indignant brothers, battle for relief! ‘As to myself, my friends, I never grudge. I wait in silence, silently retrieve Our common cause. I wouldn’t dare to budge Unless to you prosperity to give.’ The pigs were numb. Thus said the boar. The cows were now compelled to ring the bell. Disdainful devils started to abhor The slogans that the rioter would tell. ‘What shall we do? What should we say? His liberties defile the honest herd! The rebel is to die or to obey, No lies and liars should around be heard.’ ‘’Tis wise to wait, my friends. We need more heed. The pigs will madden if we go ahead. He says they suffer? Piglets underfeed? So give him food. The rebel must be fed!’ This was suggested by the oldest bull, The largest and the wisest of them all. They met the rebel preaching by the pool Inspiringly delivering his goal. The pigs were shocked. Cows whispered to his ear. He listened to auricular advice. ‘I will come back, my friends. No need to fear.’ He went. They stood with fastened eyes. He went. They stayed. He promised to come back. He never did. The pigs were out of breath. O evil fortune! Our roughest luck! He has been stabbed! O what a dreadful death! The evening came. The pigs went to the barn. And – lo! – behold their Maximus alive! As glad as ever, neither stressed nor harmed, It could appear that Maximus did thrive! He stood there leaning by the manger. Among the cows, though leaning, getting fat. Among the cows – o God! – he was in danger! He was in danger, being though intact. But maybe he has won? Perhaps it’s freedom? What if the cows decided to recede? He had been there, establishing his credo, He struggled, and the pigs were freed. Good grunt! They headed for the rack. They would come closer now that they could eat. They would come closer, but they were attacked. They tried. But cows’ response was neat. Whose little trotter kicked them on retreat? Did Maximus deliver evil butts? But no! How could he ever treat His friends like scoundrels chewing cud? ‘O Maximus! What evil did we do? O Maximus! You told us to rebel! Why can’t you let us closer to the food? What did you do? O Maximus, please tell!’ ‘No need to fuss, my friends. You shouldn’t worry. Humility is something you should learn. The cows are wise, my friends, and full of glory, Relinquish, friends, and you are bound to earn.’ Thus said the rebel circled by the cows. Let us agree, as did the honest porkers, Humility is worth the rebel’s vows, And fits the most rebellious of workers. |
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| © Copyright 2001 Paul Bilokon - All Rights Reserved | |||
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doreen peri Member Elite
since 1999-05-25
Posts 3812Virginia |
VERY well done!!! |
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Paul B New Member
since 2001-06-12
Posts 8Limassol, Cyprus |
Thank you very much Doreen! But I think that I have discovered a disturbing relationship. The number of people that read the poem is inversely proportional to its length. A major problem of The Rebel! |
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