It happens to every nation.
The promise of youth fades
And you must grow up and support yourself
Because you can't depend forever
On everyone saying how special you are.
Your parents gave you expensive gifts
And sent you off to school yourself
And carry on their good name;
You squandered your inheritance
On shiny baubles and rich meals,
Never respecting your debts.
You hired yourself a cheerleader
To speak on your behalf;
Tall with an impressive jaw.
He glitters when he walks
And when he sits upon his throne and tweets,
But it takes a while for you to realize
He's a few semesters past his prime,
He was home-schooled in debate,
He gets checks from exotic zip codes,
And his quiet friends write all the lines
In the homework he does and charges you for
(Your hard-earned money, siphoned out
To pay the bill that is always larger than you thought).
He may console you, and tell you how
You were always the big man on the continent,
Strutter of the world's stage,
But the tales he tells are increasingly silly
And the harder he blows, the less people listen.
The more you see this huckster for who he is,
The more you wish friends would help.
But your friendships are all shallow,
You only helped them face bullies when it was expedient,
And your influence dried up
After one too many venal wars.
No one wants to visit you now
Except to take advantage.
It happens to every nation;
You're no different.
To throw this shyster out on his ear
Takes disciplined democracy
And very great resistance.
