tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79875224417251609292012-02-16T06:12:02.915-08:00Rod Laymannoreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7987522441725160929.post-882133005612949492010-05-08T08:49:00.000-07:002010-05-09T14:05:50.295-07:002004 June 5: <br />THE CHATTERING CLASSES <br />or: the Whine-and-Cheese Stand-Around Lament <br />tune: The Wagoner’s Lad <br /><br />The chattering classes in the party room stand; <br />they munch on canapés with wine glass in hand, <br />talk of who’s got a grant and who’s sleeping with whom, <br />and what stark new scenario portends the world’s doom: <br /><br />The planet is warming – or has it turned cold? <br />tech is out of control – or is progress on hold? <br />there are too many people – or not quite enough; <br />and however you paint it, the picture looks rough. <br /><br />Woes real and imaged they bewail without end; <br />they don’t know how much works, but they’re sure how to mend. <br />And how strangely it happens their cares all inflate <br />the take of the taxman, and the power of the state. <br /><br />If I built me a starship and sailed the deep blue, <br />and I found a new species much like me and you, <br />though their skins were pale green and their cocktails pitch-black – <br />would their chatter drive me crazy, make me want to sail back? <br /><br />copyright © Eric Layman 2004<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7987522441725160929-88213300561294949?l=ericlayman.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Rod Laymannoreply@blogger.com2