A new work from Papa Possum.

Enjoy, or not.


Sticks and Stones
(The Athens/Chicago School of Debate)


In Ancient Greece, Sophist elites
taught how to cast a spell
to make more great the lesser cause,
and what's true hard to tell.
With sly wordcraft, with sleight of phrase,
with slick persuasive sell,
one could both draw forth benefit
and still poison the well.

Political sticks, rhetorical stones -
the items which are always thrown
when Truth is what must not be known -
political sticks, rhetorical stones.

These rules our Ruling Class use well
and show it with each word:
“extremist”, “racist”, “arsonist”,
“terrorist”, “wacko bird”,
“hostage taker”, and “kidnapper” -
nothing is too absurd
when “News” is just ad hominem
so people won't be heard.

Political sticks, rhetorical stones -
those networks in their pockets sewn
serve as Alinsky megaphones -
political sticks, rhetorical stones.

Survivors old look on in fear
at what they see once more:
a Ruling Class that's risen up
and what each held in store.
With ev'ry demagogic word
they think, “How long before
the 'useful' smash the windows in,
paint 'TEABAG!' on the door?”

Political sticks, rhetorical stones -
this “Scorched Earth” that's the new “New Tone”
is how each gulag gate is grown -
political sticks, rhetorical stones.

Dismiss this and the fault's your own -
political sticks, rhetorical stones,
political sticks, rhetorical stones.

Sticks and Stones, Copyright © 2013, Papa Possum


Hear the audio stream here: http://papapossum.blogspot.com/2013/11/s...