Valhalla Drowning

And on one desolate morn in Pandæmonium,
Moloch took a lusty stallion from a stable marked
Teaching Hospital, and rode this stallion without
Surcease for seven days and seven nights, until

The horse collapsed from exhaustion and duly
Breathed its last; then he took a spirited colt from
A stable marked Music Conservatory, and rode this
Colt for seven days and seven nights, until the colt

Could ride no further and began to stagger; taking
A mare from a stable marked Ballet Academy, he rode
This mare for seven days and seven nights until the
Steed was spent, a gaunt and vanquished animal;

Next he selected a charger from a stable marked
Youth Basketball, and rode this charger for seven days
And seven nights until the horse’s knees gave out,
And it lay its head down for the very last time; lastly,

He selected a gelding from a stable marked Academia,
And rode this gelding for seven days and seven nights,
Until it lay shattered and broken beside a cold and
Lonely brook; and the demons clove down upon the

Phantoms of the earth, and the screen expounded such
Timeless words of wisdom: such as how hard work always
Breeds success, and with success comes wealth and
Riches – and with these riches come friendship and love.

David Penner’s articles on politics and health care have appeared in Dissident Voice, CounterPunch, Global Research, The Saker blog, OffGuardian and KevinMD; while his poetry can be found at Dissident Voice, Mad in America, and redtailedhawk.substack.com. Also a photographer, he is the author of three books of portraiture: Faces of The New Economy, Faces of Manhattan Island, and Manhattan Pairs. He can be reached at 321davidadam@gmail.com. Read other articles by David.