Then Came the Revolution

We have a troubled history
of repression, greed, and pain,
but never seem to learn from it,
so it happens yet again.

A church of greed and privilege,
as Martin Luther learned,
had no place in his belief,
and a mighty tide had turned.
     Then came the Revolution
     and a righteous fire burned.

“No taxation without representation”
became the order of the day,
as Americans rebelled,
dumping taxed tea in the bay.
     Then came the Revolution,
     and Empire passed away.

“Liberté, égalité, fraternité”
chanted the French masses,
tired of seeing ever more
aristocratic excesses.
     Then came the Revolution,
     and Louis’ power passes.

In October, on the Neva,
the Romanovs were swept away,
and the mighty Winter palace
was bloodstained on that day.
     Then came the Revolution
     to herald Communism’s day.

When Mao finished his Long March,
and Chiang was forced to flee,
the Chinese people waited
to see what now would be.
     Then came the Revolution,
     but still they are not free.

South Africa’s apartheid,
the crash of Berlin’s Wall,
the bloodshed of the Arab Spring,
strong lessons to us all:
     When comes the Revolution
     we all must heed the call.

Corporations tell us now
we must all spend and borrow;
and hired politicians lie,
and steal, and feign deep sorrow.
     Now comes the Revolution:
     it’s happening tomorrow!

           * * *
We have a troubled history
of repression, greed, and pain,
but never seem to learn from it,
so it happens yet again.