Captivated
By heroic tales
A hatchet man
Selling history
Intimidated
Until we fail
To understand
Humanity’s misery

Exploitation
Is our nearest friend
Deprivation
A means to an end

Liberty
Shrinks to accommodate
Aspirations
To deny pain
Vulnerability
Only exacerbates
Protestations
To be free again

Complications
Soothe our conscience
It still doesn’t show
Much intelligence

Captivated
By our own folly
A hatchet man
Selling misery
Incriminated
By base desires
Left unchecked
A raging fire

Condemnation
Won’t alleviate
Deprivation
Until it’s too late