26. “ Fundamental Change”

A poem from AS WELL AS CAN BE EXPECTED: Selected poems, including Things need not be this way, by Richard L. Rose

Fundamental Change

Many well-rooted generations later,
there came into the land a Porcine Period
when, snouts aloft, the scent of change
was sniffed: redistribution, retribution,
and restitution — in delving design
as upheavers and uprooters squeeled
their radical & fundamental plans.

Many soft and well-rooted generations later,
there came into the land a second Porcine Period
when, snouts aloft to sense and scents of change,
the sniff and snort of revolution, retribution,
and radical redistribution, the uprooters
and upheavers’ Squeelers Sequel ran
to overturn what earlier snouts had brought about.

Many seasons later, porcine generations past,
there came a leveling from below, uprising
from a million star-faced mouths, the Underground
Achievement of the Blind Masses recovering
their power to sweeten every burrow with a flower.

Many sure-footed steps later,
a band of walking-sticks . . .