Further thoughts on the Modest Proposal of Jonathan Swift:

MODEST PROPOSING
by Don Brennan

like erotic posing
modest proposing
to be effective must
also be subtle
a surprise

as a wayward compliment
with the point of a
driven nail

humor intended to crucify
must be humor nonetheless

yet leave the victim
twisting in the tree

you will see tears rush
to fill a mouth
still grinning
when the nail
hammered by the word
suddenly
sinks home

and the enemy’s groans
will empty the bowel
as easily as blood
gushing
from a mortal wound

so that the stink of a
hot fresh corpse
assails the nose

as delightful as a
scream for mercy
trilling
in a torturer’s ear

for the purpose of
modest proposing
after all
is death
accomplished

nothing less
than agonizing death
for ordinary
injustice
become
every day
routine
like suburban
scenery
trimmed lawns
pastel paint
no insects

injustice has
become
normal
as sinew to
muscle
as marrow to
bone
as phloem to
the tree

until we cannot
escape
our slavery to it

so trained are we
to think inequity
acceptable
we no longer
question
submission

to bow beneath
the master’s
whippings

hanging by our
wrists from his
shackles
assured
we are free

his blows
kicks
beatings
(sending our young
to war)
he tells us
are patriotic
sacrifice
because
injustice
is
expected
demanded
required of us
as good citizens

madness is sanity
cruelty is virtue
politics is crime
conscience is evil
obedience is good
compassion is laughable
so
in the service of peace
and freedom, if you
happen to be interested
in that, we modestly
propose rising up against
ordinary injustice wherever
you find it

simply imagine and
deliver your own
surprising
(don’t forget subtle)
death blow
and
leave injustice' corpse
twisting
in the tree.