Guest Poet: Paul O’Donnell

You know I only do it because I love you

The emperor’s clothes are a thing of beauty
For all believers to see
His narrowed eyes avoiding, smirking
Non believers quivering, laughing
Apostles’ straw bosses navigate the throng
If you don’t believe then you are wrong
Just take my hand the apostles command
We will lead you to the promised land.

Team players all, you must buy in
My clothes truly are a wonderful thing
For the good of all the lament shouted aloud
In the bromide fog, no contrary allowed
Truth now mired in fear of myself
The deepest scars are now off the shelf
Just take my hand the apostles command
We will lead you to the promised land.

Be proud to chant the collective prayer
Become disciples for all to declare
Yet in the glow of gaslight yellow
Surely there is one who will bellow
The emperor’s clothes are just masks and cloaks
Coveted by those believing folks
Just take my hand the apostles command
We will lead you to the promised land.

In the yellow glow a silence now descends
The beacon of life no longer transcends
The souls of supplicants have extinguished their light
Yet now there is a new fight
A pretender has emerged from the crowd
With a new chant to be bellowed out loud
Just take my hand the new emperor commands
I will help you look for that promised land.

The emperor’s clothes are still a thing of beauty
For all believers to still see
New narrowed eyes still avoiding, smirking
Non believers still quivering, laughing
Apostles’ straw bosses still navigate the throng
If you don’t believe then you are wrong
Just take my hand the apostles command
We are at the promised land.
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