Homage to deceased rogues

—We still play these cards like rouges

faces of kings, queens; princes and princesses presidents, vicars and all renowned

agents that swayed our thoughts and actions

gaze out of antediluvian tombs

laughing at the ignorance and perplexity

of all under the auspices of shadows of those

that once were gurus, movers and shakers

men and women of gold and amethysts

freedom devourers on the surface they're kind

two things; surrender your honor

surrender your soul; plea fealty to the famed

your dignity they devour with satisfaction

—so that even beyond their graves and graces

we remain tethered to their casuistry

continuing this tomfoolery of lost morality

to feel magnificent they must denude you

your unalloyed delights pulverized to nihilism

so that they, a handful of them can influence,

or crown their decayed pates in gold and silver

others adorn diamonds daubed in blood

through toil and moil the monies yielded

spent on another Louis, Charles or Henry!

should the stucco of the palace walls crack

should the eaves fail to prevent ingress

speaking of offhanded autocrats under the veil fairytale! Maybach's bumper-to-bumper,

they'll mince if you fail to make way!

we still cling to this old card game with faith

paying homage to men and women of centuries

lost to us, characters about whom nothing good could be said!

yes, we still play these cards bedecked

with faces villains poised as heroes and heroines

we never ask or wonder why every generation's allotted era ends shamefully...