Blessed are the rich:
Do we really need to spell it out for you?
Every teacher since Mrs. Lucenik
In the First Grade
Had it on the syllabus.
Whether you’re drawing apple trees
With 10 red apples
Or struggling with Pythagoras and Parallelograms
It’s all the same.
Don’t act surprised now
Doesn’t every parent
At every Pomp and Circumstance
Discreetly bow their head
And pray their own
Version of this
As their children
Stride across the stage,
The wind tugging at their gown
O Blessed are they who live a life
Free from mourning and regret.
Blessed are the Confident
The self-reliant, the go-getters.
That’s what we taught them.
On the baseball diamond
On the grid-iron
Gymnastics, swimming
Pounding up and down the court
See what you want
Then take it.
Believe in yourself
The world is your oyster
In life you get back what you give.
So, don’t be a dope.
Mercy is for chumps
Press your advantage
Never give a sucker an even break
Or you’ll be left behind
Weeping and gnashing your teeth.
There is only one thing
That makes life worth living and
Blessed are they who
Keep It Simple Stupid.
Don’t try to avoid a conflict
You never will anyway
Prepare for it
Be ready and then
Throw yourself into it
Take no prisoners
Punish anyone who gets in your way
Make them regret ever crossing you
That’s how you make peace.
Blessed are you when
They persecute you
For your self-righteousness
Rejoice and Laugh
All the way to the bank
Remember those who came before you
Buildings are named after them
And streets
Libraries, parks and post offices
Just look around
Open your eyes.
Look at them
Who haven’t a prayer
Who would give their right arm,
To stand where you
Are standing
To have what you have
The poor, the meek, the huddled masses
Who yearn for a strong leader
To step in
And shake some sense into the world
Who knows how things really work
And finally
Finally
Will bless them and
Show them the way.
\
:
Charles Oberkehr 