Orange Lizards

From William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar — “Serpent’s egg already hatched” — to Dead Kennedys’ “California Über Alles,” people have often dared to criticise the poisonous aspects of power. “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Lord Acton said, and even the Bible, in Ecclesiastes 5:8 onwards, notes Solomon’s observation that it is important for people to enjoy their work, but if others abuse that, no good will come.

I chose the burning image from Tolkien’s Galadriel, as I fear for America.

Orange lizards,
basking in the reflection of glory,
dropping names like a drunken fumbling,
gaslighting and catfishing,
a house built on sand, just the same,
ego writhing in the light of lime,
ignorance of others’ pains and problems,
slimy smugness personified,
avatar of arrogance,
ordering crimes and insisting, heinously,
gross moral turpitude and turbulence,
breaking vows never meant,
dislike me at your peril,
criticise me and be deported, disappeared,
I hate all, but I represent you.
My flaming face destroyed all,
all will love me and despair.