Feudal Futility

Masters lounge within
walled compounds
overseeing fruits picked
by thick fingers.
Blistered backs and souls
toil the land for meager rewards
while their benefactors
dine on swine
and wine.

The masses swell and do tell
of elsewhere when with full
stomachs they danced
in vineyards of old.
Listen for the sound 
of their bare feet
as they pound
upon the ground with muffled
steps in sparse moments
found in perfect contentment.

Reviews

[Traci]

The rich get richer, the poor poorer. This is a powerful write, a reminder that things haven't changed much.

Your gentle soul shines compassionately in this piece. "Perfect contentment" and love for humanity.

[Lydia Shutter]

The feudal system....I remember learning about that in high school. Slavery by any other name if you ask me. Yes, the lords were in the their mansions sipping tea while the serfs did all the work. Makes one wonder why they would have been happy. Of course, there are more than two sides to every situation, are there not? Very moving....your compassion for humanity is strong. Lydi**

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Lydi. I appreciate your kind comment. I do like to think I have a soft heart which I do not view as a weakness. : ) Be by soon to return the favor.

[Lydia Shutter]

A soft heart is not a weakness...it is an asset! No rush on reading me. The poetry will not expire! :)

[Einstein Noodle]

I read in a book once that governing bodies come about when groups living in proximity disagree. Tho simplistic I think the statement is also profound. The title and your words take me back to a system in which most everything was taken from the serfs. What they got was safety from other Lord's armies, roving bands of brigands etc. and a place to live.

"overseeing fruits picked
by thick fingers." really speaks to me. love that!
In America (the greatest country in the world) I trade time and skills for common exchange. I have never felt that my employer takes anything from me. The federal government (in its present slide) does however take from me more and more. So I vote.

What also speaks to me is:
"Listen for the sound
of their bare feet
as they pound
upon the ground with muffled
steps in sparse moments
found in perfect contentment."
like a crust of bread for the starving we are teased by these sparse moments.
I can feel the blisters and bent back; I can smell the dust and field heat. Nice job!
E.

[icelandicblue]

Ah Einstein have I told you that I love your reviews! I too vote and have since I turned 18 (at that time if only to cancel out my father's vote lol). If you don't vote then don't complain is my motto. The metaphor extends beyond the fields too though and I think big business will be the downfall of us all but then what is the alternative? Thank you so much for your thoughts and comments. I owe you, school is keeping me busy but I promise I will be by soon.

[Einstein Noodle]

love and peace Blue! great fortune at school to you!
E.

[Joyce S. Greene]

Your words made me want to weep. Those billionaires manipulating the market and pilfering pension funds are the direct descendents of those feudal lords. Shame on them! I, too, loved the last six lines - very moving. A striking poem.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you Joyce. You are really very kind.

[Lucy]

Last few lines are a killer.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you.

[TL Boehm]

and it hasn't changed much - the haves and the have nots. love those last few lines especially.

[icelandicblue]

That is the truth. Thanks for reading!

[Rosaria_V]

All I can say is wow, your so great!!! I love this as well as all of your writing :)

[icelandicblue]

You are spoiling me Rosaria. Thanks

[Rosaria_V]

haha I can never give enough ;) lol always welcome.

[Mrs.Murs]

this is a great write. i really enjoyed reading you.

[icelandicblue]

Thank you for reading and commenting.

[Mrs.Murs]

very welcome friend.

[Mark]

The class struggle lives on. Crony capitalism, the Occupy Movement, the endless wars we seem to be fighting where our young people give up their lives for 'freedom'.

Excellent tale. I felt the despair and anger... but then perhaps it mirrors my own.

[icelandicblue]

Thanks so much Mark. Appreciate the comment.

[Angel]

The rich toss in their satin sheets trying to figure out how to extort even more money from the poor, and think it a shame to have to pay them their minimum wage...
While the children of the poor cry for a crust of bread.
There is enough of God's good things in this world that He provided so that not one child ever has to die of starvation or neglect...but, to our shame, it happens every day.
All so that a few may dine on swine and wine...
Powerful write!

[icelandicblue]

Thank you so much Angel for that review.