Now Is the Autumn of Our Discontent

Oh, East is East and West is West, and
maybe the twain shall meet,
When earth and sky stand presently at God’s
great judgment seat;
But here on land some take a stand and vow
they’ll eat alive,
Those infidel bands from foreign strands till
none such shall survive.

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Refrain:
Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle, Rumsfeld, and
Bush.
Imperial hubris, rational mush.
You’re lying, you’re lying; how e’er much
you want to,
Invasion is risky; this isn’t Lepanto [the Battle of Lepanto in 1571].

Oh, they had cause, tis often said, but
unsatisfied with their price
The bloody deeds, as flights rent steel, came
once, then, oh God, twice.
And some oft say to those who pray new
warnings will suffice,
Take heed the pest exterminator’s vow: “real
power” only, kills lice.

Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle, Rumsfeld, and
Bush.
Imperial hubris, rational mush.
You’re lying, you’re lying; how e’er much
you want to,
Revenge, it is risky; this isn’t Lepanto.

But democracy can’t grow nor freedom
breathe by mere exported ukase,
And fools that try will often cheat and lie to
make their doggy case.
So yesterday we “won,” the battle’s done,
and reactionaries
Only are left to fight; mere lucid fanatics in
the deserts of night.

Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle, Rumsfeld, and
Bush.
Imperial hubris, rational mush.
You’re lying, you’re lying; how e’er much
you want to,
Occupation’s risky; this wasn’t Lepanto.

And the monster is down, evil offspring
deceased; free folks
Can breathe; and self-rule increased. Or so it
looks!
We are an occupying army, as all there do
know;
It’s only in DC where enforced blinkers still
grow.

Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle, Rumsfeld, and
Bush.
Imperial hubris, rational mush.
You’re lying, you’re lying; how e’er much
you want to,
Self-governing’s risky; this wasn’t Lepanto.

So what was it worth, this venture
Neo-CONish?
And why does Ms. Rice look so astonished?
Where is Powell’s common sense, his army
hard head?
As the Congress, too, rolled over, or just
jumped into bed.

Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle, Rumsfeld, and
Bush.
Imperial hubris, rational mush.
You’re lying, you’re lying; how e’er much
you want to,
Though war drums keep thumping, this was
no Lepanto.

Oh, East is East and West is West, and
happens the twain did meet,
Where earth and sky stood presently at God’s
great judgment seat;
Though here on land some took a stand and
tried hard to insist
That we stop those bands of Neo-CON
hands whose aftermath persists!

Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle, Rumsfeld, and
Bush.
Imperial hubris, rational mush.
You’re lying, you’re lying; how e’er much
you want to,
The election is coming; your neuroses we’re
on to.

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