By Tim Mills
Illustration: George Grosz, “Stützen der Gesellschaft (Pillars of Society),” 1926
It Happens Every Fifth of July
Reading from the podium hizzoner puffs and sweats
Of Life Liberty & Happiness he has no regrets
The courthouse clock strikes midnight – as we take the banners down
The city fathers’ posse quells the mutiny in our town.
It happens every fifth of July
Happens every fifth of July
You could wind up a goner when you pledge your sacred honor
It happens every fifth of July.
When all the hot dog wrappers are thrown in the trash
When hizzoner takes a limo ride home from the bash
When all the rabblerousers are neatly locked away
Rest assured that there’s gonna be another business day.
It happens every fifth of July
Happens every fifth of July
You could wind up a goner when you pledge your sacred honor
It happens every fifth of July.
No doubt that John Brown’s body lies moldering in the grave
But on the wages treadmill runs another kind of slave
He’ll splurge on brats n beans n beer this Independence Day
Come tomorrow – to make ends meet – he’ll be hustling for his pay.
It happens every fifth of July
Happens every fifth of July
You could wind up a goner when you pledge your sacred honor
It happens every fifth of July.
If you’re an insider trader – close a deal then pull up stakes
And you hedge your bets on Wall Street – guarantee the pile you make
Wayward pilgrims may go fishin’ on hizzoner’s private lake
Take heart that on the next day – it’s their humble catch he’ll take.
It happens every fifth of July
Happens every fifth of July
You could wind up a goner when you pledge your sacred honor
It happens every fifth of July
(2013)
These r the thots that a simple mind can dodge. If ever u face a step close to death u will find it easy to float thru the trials, injustices scams, & many blatant indisgressions of our society & actually welcome a few if only to live another day…..
Just coming at it from a polar direction. Although I can feel the rhythm of the drill as I reflect back on my O.R. pager blasting off as I watch fireworks packed in hizzoners & plain folk & the ” knife & gun club ” beer breathing down my neck only to count on rushing to save some fool who in a drunken stupper who has provoked his cousin & best friend & neighbor into stabbing him cause he stole his four wheeler out of their garage….blah…blah….self inflicted injury morphed out of poverty, desperation & ignorance……pitiful common guy we all r souvere for they display….. But on the 5th…..back to the haves & have nots….God Bless the USA