In The Face Of Defeat

In The Face Of Defeat
© Surazeus
2024 11 16

Sitting on curb outside the grocery store, 
he plays guitar and sings heart-broken blues. 
"If everything in my life falls apart 
I just leave it all behind in the town 
and walk on down the road to someplace new 
where I can build a better way to live." 

Mothers with children and old bearded men 
drop dollars in his hat as they walk by. 
"Whenever I want to make a new start 
I hide my true face with mask of the clown 
then, searching in the shadows for some clue, 
I find treasures of truth that I can give." 

Several people form circle round his spot, 
tapping their feet in rhythm with his beat. 
"I want to fly like Icarus in the sky, 
but wings of ambition I made from hope 
melt in glaring sun of reality 
and this is where I landed on the Earth." 

One eager boy flaps his arms like bird wings 
and runs in circles round the friendly tree. 
"I pause on signless road to wonder why 
I have to learn each new day how to cope 
with bitter sorrow of my family 
who care not where I wander on the Earth." 

Policemen arrive with guns on their hips 
and demand to see his busking permit. 
"We must unite to fight cruel tyranny 
when the traitor and conman steals the crown 
for men will feel free to commit more crimes 
and steal from people who work hard all day." 

He loudly shouts he has the right to sing 
voice of the people suppressed by their fear. 
"We must fight for our world democracy 
to save our country from the greedy clown 
but none dares rock the boat in scary times, 
afraid of the gangster who demands pay." 

Struggling against arrest of the police, 
he kicks and screams about his civil rights. 
"I worked hard all my life and followed rules 
but men in power rigged the social game 
so they will always win and I will lose 
though I am honest as they lie and cheat." 

Clutching crushed guitar as he backs away, 
he gasps in surprise as they shoot him dead. 
"We little people are no more than tools 
the rich abuse to gain adoring fame 
but in the end all we can do is choose 
how to live well in the face of defeat."