One of the burdens of democracy
is the confusion it creates
for its citizenry,
who don't recognize the fragility
of an arbitrary system.

The drone who runs his motor boat
on a still lake,
exercising his right to pollute
with oil, gas, other man-made toxins,
until nothing but a motor boat survives.

The rustic man who slaughters sparrows
in a murderous spree to save the bluebirds,
already doomed to loss of habitat
by mindless, but profitable construction,
without regard to consequence.

The protesters against globalization
who may or may not be sincere,
but shriek their passionate objections
louder than the serfs of eld
resisting feudalism.

O wonderful democracy
that nurtures slick exploiters
who clamor for a meritocracy
in a consumer based society
that is exhausting merit.