Once Upon A Time Was An Empire

Once Upon A Time Was an Empire

***

Once upon a time was an empire
It fell down the stairs lost its brain
spiritually dead sang in choirs
Minister preached, "Lifes a game."
Children played in mud and slime
court judged from upon high
Criminal penalties thought crimes 
Empire gasped one last burp
earth crying began to pray
All life would not pass away

Pied Piper's rally begins at noon
he suddenly forgot his flute
Goddess arrived too soon
children took the wrong route
Pied Piper, forgot his name
Goddess got lost
Beggar children saw end game
Pied Piper couldn't pay the cost
No one had much to say
They then passed away

Emperor sat upon his throne
Joker laughed in his face
lost children had no home
Of the hero, not a trace
Emperor flushed his throne
Joker fled in disgrace
Children sucked marrow from bones
Superman, well, he lost his power
villain had nothing to say
He then passed away

Jezebel was quite something
Samson, well, he lost his hair
evil queen schemed to win
children were scared
Donald Duck stood up cried
Minnie Mouse seemed sad
Said, "The American Dream died."
Daffy Duck said, "Oh no, that's bad!" 
Empire became an ashtray
Puffing smoke soon past away

America, home of the brave
Well, Woody, told another story
truth buried in graves
Naked politicians said, "Don't worry."
Children play in broken glass
Moon questions why?
What happened to the Middle Class?
Along a forgotten back road, it died
White House fell into decay
Then it passed away

Burroughs and Gysin were wizards
Written word media, all propaganda
Cut up fake dream lies with scissors
Battling thought control agenda
Children had space to dance
sun began to smile and shine
people fell out of their blank trance
Emperor covered his exposed behind
people recognized the magical display
With free will, they dissolved away

***

Unable to sleep while reflecting upon the rise and fall of empires, these words fell on me like confetti.

Burroughs instructed David Penn Trinley Arndt with a shotgun to put the words in a hat. Gysin said, "Scatter the words in the wind and liberate the future." Feeling slightly nervous, as Burroughs began shooting at paint cans, I did as instructed, and the above was revealed.

Cassad arrived, and picked up Burroughs and Gysin, saying, "We're off to Frisco."

Having no clue about the meaning of these words, I felt tired, it being 4:04 am, May 17, 2020, so I went back home to bed.

Emperor, this is no joke; drink a diet Coke, silly artichoke, you garbage-eating goat!

***

© David Penn Trinley Arndt 2022

***