take a course and forget what that course meant
take a job with the code enforcement
make a code and brutally enforce it
lead a horse, don't know where that horse went

sleeping dogs have the sharpest teeth
with a hunger from the heart beneath
who better could ever deserve this land
government visionary missionary businessman

make up a law just to break it
put it to sleep and then you wake it
take away and over-take it
it's my bedroll, let me make it

take a bow your job is done so keep it
make a candlestick and try to leap it
pull the wool down then fleece it
lead the sheep, forget where the sheep went

Lawrence Hall
[email protected]
https://hellopoetry.com/lawrence-hall/
poeticdrivel.blogspot.com

               The Men of the Bible Class Pose for a Photograph
                   on the Steps of the Methodist Church in 1968

My grandfather once threatened some other old man
With his pocketknife just before the ten o’clock
Maybe it was over a point of theology
That’s surely as exciting as Bible class ever got

The Baptist men were the city council
And most of the school’s board of trustees too
But the Methodists somehow had more self-assurance
You can see it in their bearing and their suits

They seem to be their fathers in 1898
With railroads and sawmills – great times ahead

Everywhere I go,
I sow the seeds of sorrow.
I will bring you liberty,
but, you must do what I tell you.
I will free you from oppression,
if you get down on your knees.
I will spread law and order,
like I spread war and disease.
I will tell you what is wicked,
while I do as I please.
You know who I am,
you've belonged to me since birth.
I'm the stars and bars,
the whole world wears my scars,
and I'll bleed you for all you're worth.
It's a grand old flag,
and one day soon
It will reign over the earth.