Swans Commentary » swans.com March 28, 2005  

 

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by Gerard Donnelly Smith

 

Poetry

 

 

 

Song of the Pioneer

 

Oil for my mama and oil for my papa,
grease for the wagon wheels
to carry us home.
Oil for the lantern and oil for the plow,
more grease for the gun barrel
to safeguard our home.

From savages and animals
out here on the prairie,
From indians and outlaws
who won't leave us alone.

 

Song of the Ranger

 

Oil for my congress and oil for my president,
grease for the open palm
that carries us home.
Oil for the market and oil for big profit,
more grease for the gun turrets
to safeguard our home.

From dictators and communists
out here on the prairie,
From democrats and tree-huggers
who won't leave us alone.

 

Song of the Consumer

 

Oil for myself and more oil for myself,
grease for my Hummer's wheels
to carry me home.
Oil from Alaska or oil from Iraq
more grease for the economy
to safeguard my home.

From price hikes and taxes
out here on the prairie,
From Osama and terrorists
who won't leave me alone.

 

All Together Now

 

Who cares about global warming,
who cares about the icecaps,
who cares about the islanders,
who get swept out to sea?

Who cares about the caribou,
who cares about the science?
Wish they'd all go to hell,
there'd be more oil for me!

Internal Resources

Poetry on Swans

 

About the Author

Gerard Donnelly Smith on Swans (with bio).

 

Legalese

Please, feel free to insert a link to this work on your Web site or to disseminate its URL on your favorite lists, quoting the first paragraph or providing a summary. However, please DO NOT steal, scavenge, or repost this work on the Web or any electronic media. Inlining, mirroring, and framing are expressly prohibited. Pulp re-publishing is welcome -- please contact the publisher. This material is copyrighted, © Gerard Donnelly Smith 2005. All rights reserved.

 

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