The Third Force
I had a nightmare some time ago,
of gilded halls and riches row by row,
that's what I suppose it wanted me to know,
and not of the screaming just below.
At some point I reached a kind of end,
a palace hall to whose glory could none contend,
sitting on a cushion, letting many to it attend,
some sight I just now start to comprehend.
Before me was a calf of hair most bright,
golden, resplendent, surrounded by delight,
when it beckoned to me, cloven hoof held upright,
I approached with care, to be polite.
Dismissing those who flitted all around,
with what I can attest was maybe a sound,
arising without a tremble, in such finery crowned,
the calf began to tell a story most profound.
"I've been around since there was thought,
since something could be gained and gained again,
but this wasn't enough, not what I sought,
so I endured the same boring survival until then."
"Even in your infancy you people filled me with awe,
writing your own rules on the face of the earth,
and as the glaciers began to crumble and thaw,
I knew then it was the time for my birth."
"Wandering amongst your growing civilizations,
shapeless for now but present still,
my spark was growing well in all organizations,
your fickle hearts, to take and steal and kill."
"The old bull tried his best but I have my ways,
sneaking on an ark is not that hard,
even my messier brethren, despite what anyone says,
survived that foolish attempt to discard."
"Now I will skip ahead, I see you getting bored,
to the Shepherd and his people led ahead,
as he climbed the mountain and mood away,
I spread the rumor that he had fled."
"Without any guidance or informing word,
the altar was made and I was resplendent,
invited by the bull's own favorite little herd,
shining bright with every melted pendant."
"The Shepherd returned and ruined my fun,
but it was far too late and far too little,
my real journey had already long begun,
to teach Him how his rules are so, so brittle."
"Time passes, nations rise and fall,
yet I remain in history's shade,
behind each war, behind each wall,
ruling over each transaction made."
"I was there when the temple wrote the rules,
to take much coin from pilgrimages far and wide,
to fund their schools they told the fools,
how much my heart was filled with pride."
"I watched with glee as silver pieces thirty,
exchanged hands and the deal was struck,
rejoiced as guilt tore apart the little birdie,
even more as it ran out, his teacher’s luck."
"For his message of poverty had touched many,
but not enough to make a change,
in the end that lesson was worth less than a penny,
failing to impede, at all, the beautiful exchange."
"Like me man cares little for what comes later,
no matter what they cry and claim,
hoarding what they can't bring to their creator,
playing the same old painful game."
"I would like to claim responsibility for some plan,
some great effort to make them act this way,
but truly I say no one has done more work than man,
none but those who kill, steal, buy and pay."
"And even if there was a chance,
for them to recognize my dominion,
it's far too late to break the trance,
for they have made themselves my minions."
"You see they've woven me into their very world,
I couldn't leave even of my own volition,
they're far too content to come uncurled,
and to abandon their ambitions."
"So, it seems that I have won,
and I didn't even need to lift a hoof,
when you meet them, do tell the father, son, and the other one,
that despite their best efforts, I have proof."
I started awake in a cold sweat,
this illusion I could hardly forget,
I set to writing, quite upset,
filled with fear and somehow, regret.
I beseech any reader to not think too deep,
you might despair, you might even weep,
for this will follow you even into sleep,
don't fill your minds with calves, just sheep.