Beware of the Two-Headed Monster

Beware of the two-headed monster

Of incalculable size--

An amorphous, protean shape

That attacks by surprise.

 

This monster relies on deception

To corner its unwary prey;

You fall into its clutches

Once your endurance gives way.

 

One of its faces is comely,

Displaying a luring smile

And a look of apparent compassion--

Both of which beguile.

 

Its mouth forms words of loyalty,

Morality, honor, virtue,

Freedom, pride, and values;

You wonder how that could hurt you.

 

But what you don’t see directly

While you’re busy being stung

By all the sly, false promises

Is the monster’s disgusting forked tongue.

 

The other face of the monster

Is hideous beyond belief--

Bearing an insidious smirk

And a mien that fills you with grief.

 

The mouth on this face spews hatred,

Poison, distrust, hypocrisy,

And duplicitous manipulation--

A threat to any democracy.

 

It pours out dangerous platitudes

And remedies that mislead.

Underneath its artifice

Runs callousness and greed.

 

The monster, of course, uses trickery

To let you see only one face;

But it keeps its nefarious tactics

Constantly in place.

 

With its tentacles of far-reaching range,

It reaches out to clasp

Any heedless victim

And hold him or her in its grasp.

 

So beware of the two-headed monster

And its growing provocation.

Only two things can kill it:

Reason and education.

(8-25-14)