Clothes Make the Man ~ Philip Brent
Since I was just small, I have so often heard it said,
Clothes make the man, that it has become clichéd
Dress for success, the mantra many a parent chants
Making a first impression, there’s no second chance
Wise words some whiz will say, a logical conclusion
Yet words with great potential to generate confusion
When imitation becomes blind conformity, beware
Manifests in thoughts, words and deeds, so prepare
Innocently, this starts with needful actions advanced
Police, firefighter’s uniforms, so status is enhanced
We can recognize, find them when they aid or save
Help for harsh emergencies we hope we never have
Withal, bigotry and hatred are just another uniform
Some hidden by a hood, a swastika worn on an arm
Sometimes they resemble you or anybody you know
Come in all shapes, sizes, just an average Jane or Joe
Oh how such people remain insular, generations on
Pious isms dads and moms teach to daughters, sons
Jealousy or guilt suppressed, motives false, yet clear
That they will lose the hill-king spot, their worst fear
Stolen people, forced to toil, by chains encumbered
Those we cruelly slaughtered, in millions numbered
The once enslaved, seek a place in a land called free
Proclaimed emancipated, shall not move next to thee
Marginalized and mired in ghettos, slums of ill repute
If they think you’ve moved a toe, they’ll simply shoot
And all who do not look, think, act like them, suspect
Portrayed evil, alien, other, thus deserving no respect
Crusade and jihad, all the same, is intolerance so bold
With only death, destruction, no matter how it’s told
Claim your god blessed, their god damned, so absurd
No god condones such intolerance of thought or word
Arms makers, dealers fatten on the blood of our future
Sons, daughters torn asunder, cannot be fixed by suture
Better weapons created, as if the old didn’t kill enough
Escalating till no end but brutal death the brew we quaff
After They’ve tested their latest weapons against the old
Why then, their older weapons can be profitably resold
To criminals, patriots, militias, cowboys across the land
Or small-town police forces; here you can find demand
How decided, when first response has become extreme
Knowing their riot shields and their helmets will gleam
Can we expect them to resist such military pulchritude
When we’ve encouraged them to develop this attitude
Our media and games touted by those who profit most
Help them all to lives of ease; they should raise a toast
We let them dictate how we live, who we may hate, love
Forget it, if you’re awaiting some miracle from above
It’s true, I think, what we wear may become who we are
Despite my dread that we have walked this road too far
We do not have to choose the choices we always chose
We decide what gets made, what choices, what clothes
Although I posted this previously, I realized this morning upon receiving a post from The Seeker’s Dungeon that this week’s prompt served as subliminal inspiration. Unsure what link to provide, I’ll also add The Pen’s Might.
thepensmight.com 
[…] Man Makes the Clothes – The Pen’s Might […]
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Whoa, excellent words you’ve put together. An epic manifesto.
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Thank you. I’m pleased I managed to connect with you on this. Thanks for the prompt.
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[…] Man Makes the Clothes – The Pen’s Might […]
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A touching study of “clothes make the man”!
My favorite lines:
“bigotry and hatred are just another uniform”
“That they will lose the hill-king spot, their worst fear”
“The once enslaved … shall not move next to thee”
“Claim your god blessed, their god damned, so absurd”
“We do not have to choose the choices we always chose
We decide what gets made, what choices, what clothes”
I like the looseness of your rhymes. The ones that especially amuse me are said/cliched, chants/chance, delusion (I think this was your intention)/confusion, on/sons, enough/quaff.
I read this repeatedly until I could read it out loud with rhythm and emphasis and drama. I am enjoying the energy and sound of it.
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Weaver Grace, Thank you for stopping by and for your thought comments. In fact, it was meant to say conclusion/confusion. I just updated it so it does. I think we all at times feel we are throwing ourselves into the vacuum of life. It is great to have a good response, combined with enthusiasm.
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Oh! I like the sound of conclusion/confusion :)
Are you saying we are suckers? :)
Good responses and enthusiasm keep me blogging, too :)
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While that may be true (that we are suckers) it’s not what I’m saying. Referencing the title of Richard Farina’s long ago book (Been Down So Long it Looks Like Up to Me): I think we’ve been slipping further down, but being told it’s up. I think we have been convinced to accept that we cannot create change, and that we need to wake up and smell the gunpowder.
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[…] Somnium Life as it is Melzzart Tracy’s Healing Art Vic Briggs The Pen’s Might Seasoned Sistah 2 Nik’s Place Dragons in the Night Sky Blog A Writer’s […]
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Welcome back, Seeker’s Dungeon.
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[…] Somnium Life as it is Melzzart Tracy’s Healing Art Vic Briggs The Pen’s Might Seasoned Sistah 2 Nik’s Place Dragons in the Night Sky Blog A Writer’s […]
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[…] Somnium Life as it is Melzzart Tracy’s Healing Art Vic Briggs The Pen’s Might Seasoned Sistah 2 Nik’s Place Dragons in the Night Sky Blog A Writer’s […]
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