Communist Ant Farm Blues

Just go with it

Red ants are natures communists

Although it's all passe 

They missed the cold war KO count

When Reagan saved the day 

Reagan was an earmark aardvark 

who made a sucking sound 

When he slurped up communists

he found with ultrasound 

The communists ran to and fro 

away from Reagan's tongue

He made the scene on Kremlin dreams 

and suckered everyone

He slurped up all the communists

and said my work is done 

America is crowning king

We're good for everyone 

We rode a right wing crescent wave

towards a golden shore 

Was promised dreams like movie scenes 

from Reagan's rapture yore 

Then out of old Afghanistan 

a gang of termites rose

They started eating everything 

From banks to Buffalos

They flew the Ayatollah's dream 

into the towers sky

Exterminate the caliphate 

became our battle cry

We bombed out all their mountain caves

They scampered far and wide 

They held out for sharia dreams

Our victory denied 

They spread across the crescent lands

within the words they said

A vengeful ideology

The hate they said they spread

Termites are natures terrorists 

The curse of old Yahweh 

Seeds of defeat in what they eat

They'll never go away 

Author's Note

This poem has two parts. Ronald Reagan was the president of my childhood. My memories of him have as much to to do with the grownups in my family gushing over him than anything he actually did in office. Whenever he came on TV there was an awed hush in the house as everyone gathered to bask in his warmth of his UV glow. In my little boy mind he was more God like than presidential. I was eight when he left office and I was genuinely upset by his departure. My mother had to explain to me how elections and term limits worked. (Seriously. I was that tuned into Reagan's effect on my family, hence the nation. Goes a long way in explaining why I'm such a hardcore political wonk nowadays. Well, that and the war I got sent to.)Though Reagan didn't have a whole lot to do with it he was in the right place at the right time when the Soviet Union packed it in. He got more credit than he probably deserved for that but hey, he's Reagan. Love him or hate him he's an American legend. That's why Reagan is the conservative patron saint. There's no doubt he had a certain something and yes, despite his horrendous legacy, back in the day he was one hell of a President. (at least he is in my childhood memories) Anyway, When I turned eighteen I joined the Marine corps. Mostly to get out of the crappy little town I was born in. My oldest brother was in the army so I went with the corps to prove I was tougher than he was. I know that's a stupid reason to do anything but when you're eighteen you got beaver to bang and shit to prove. (I learned that saying in the Corps. SURPRISE!) 9/11 happened and we got deployed. First to Afghanistan then to Iraq. Once wasn't enough for Iraq so we got deployed there twice. I could have lived without all 3 but I'm stuck with my history now so what am i gonna do? Figure it all out I guess. It goes without saying the "war on terror" had an enormous impact on my life. Something I'll be working out for several life times I'm sure. I'm not so sure I want to come back here though. This is one fucked up planet. That's for sure.

Reviews

[Ruth]

I guess some things shall never be understood - I like the courage here and the strength x

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Ruth

[Tai Ryens]

Colorful politics in your poem, enhanced by your own style of witty humor and the stark irony of drawing parallels between pests and politics and not giving in to the urge to call everyone in it a pest. Humorous and a very rich backstory to beat. Well done!

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Tai

[Chris Micha]

Awesome write, sir. Rich in politics and dripping with the 80's. I like how you did this one, very very creative.

[Baby Ricochet]

thanks for stopping by

[Troy Henson]

Politicians aka insects/parasites. this was well put together.

Regards
Troy

[Baby Ricochet]

Thanks troy

[Ama May Cooper]

Wether intentional or not i think this is a great representation of modern society.... and i loved every line of it..
counjours up a very clear image of nature at its best

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you ama may

[willweb]

I felt this, each biting sting of it. You sir have carved a mountain of a poem out of an ant hill. This was great. I really enjoyed this today.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate it

[Rita L. Sev]

A messed up planet, in large part due to the insects that inhabit it, as your poem shows. If Dr. Seuss had been political, and had an edge, he still would not tell it quite like you do, Mark.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you Rita

[Frieda P]

You're always too clever Baby...creepy crawlers and the jungle of political history, only you could think this one up...

[Baby Ricochet]

Thank you frieda

[Frieda P]

Always a treat Mark...

[Vera Fnk]

I like how the poem sounds and it's structure but comparing people to ants and saying that America slurped them away just makes the poem go down in my eyes. After all human beings are all equally important no matter if your beliefs differ.

[Baby Ricochet]

Thanks for stopping by

[Rosalind Gale]

Hi Ric, I really liked this a lot (as a college history instructor, you can imagine) - I also grew up with Reagan and found your poem thoughtful, true, and a bit nostalgic. I hope you are well.
-x-

[Baby Ricochet]

I'm okay. It's good to hear from you Rosalind