Fables of Fighting Fascism :1

Wolves in Men's Clothing

We start this fable

with one of old

Of a boy who cried wolf

in a game so bold

This made him a liar

to the forever end

And the moral is plain...

even to children

--

But let us add an extra voice

of perhaps an even greater choice

For it is not always children who raise the call

more often, it is us, who aren't very small

--

We must take the time and try to learn-

when it is us adults to take a turn.

When an adult makes that call,

They risk a perceived social gall:

To fall from the graces and trust of all

--

It should not be lightly that we scream and shout

For we learned of such children who did lose all clout.

--

So now we must learn this long story

which is nothing more than a lengthy allegory:

--

This young man was the one on the farm

Trained by his fathers to see the harm-

of ravenous wolves that could destroy us all

And nightly he was ready to raise that call

--

One night it came

Seeming rather tame

A beast on a hill

Looking for a kill

--

The wolf is cunning

and oddly... not running

--

He appears alone

all muscles and bone

--

Watching and waiting...

Patiently hating.

--

Hoping for a lamb

or an old sick ram

The wolf though deadly:

Targets the unready.

--

Craving the weak and easy to scare,

Choosing a target that others won't care:

The ones who are different.

The ones who are rare.

The ones who require 'more than their fair share'.

--

But a wolf is a wolf.

Be not appalled.

It is cunning and quiet,

and comes for us all.

--

So the man screams- Scaring the flock!

But scaring the wolf- Who's now running in shock!

The *wolf* is a coward and fears retribution

but *wolves* uncontested bring destitution.

--

The villagers rise and bring their rage

They march to the field but see nothing to blame

A crowd is summoned and they all doubt:

That this young man could have any clout

--

So, the wolf comes again- this time near!

And of course, the young man is filled with fear.

He thinks of the lambs he just had to shear-

He thinks of old rams trembling and dear

--

He knows each and every one of the beasts

and Wolves always seek the weak for their feasts.

The man cries out for his promised support

but the people that come- laugh and cavort

He shows them the wolf and trembling flock

But the villagers still doubt him- to his shock

--

When the wolf finally decides to make a kill:

It's the villagers who shamefully lack the will

To help the needy in the field

or to take up their sword

or take up their shield

--

So, the shepherd continues to shriek!

His only desire is to protect the weak

Broken hearted cries for help- he weeps

And still mournfully the towns people sleep

--

Instead, they ignore their obligations.

Instead, they mock his supplications.

Deep inside they hope he's wrong.

Deep inside they hate his song.

For somewhere in their lives

they were taught the wolf's lies:

--

'No one deserves help don't you agree?'

'For no one helped you nor your seed.'

'So, this means the shepherd is to blame.'

'This means the shepherd must be making false claims!'

--

'The sheep are parasites and leeches'

'They deserve whatever the wolf beseeches'

'Let the sheep die in the field!'

'The wolves have never come for YOUR yield'

--

The wolves kill the weakest of the sheep...

That is the secret that they all keep.

The cunning wolf lulls you all to sleep.

But we have an oath that we must keep:

To run the hill no matter how steep!

--

So, the question now is who's to blame?

All of us were surely taught the same:

Of young liars and games and sheep and pain

--

But the second story adds some shame:

That perhaps we should all take some blame.

What of the villagers who chose to sleep?-

When they knew the dangers to the sheep?

--

In both stories they had made a pact:

That no matter the time- they would act.

For wolves are real and this is a fact!

--

Today we cry 'WOLF!' and they say 'LIES!'

They want us to doubt our very eyes

but remember, remember, this simple fact:

That wolves are real- and we must act!

--

Shame on the men and women who smear

The shepherd that only is acting sincere.

Caring for the weakest of the flock-

surely, is not something we should mock!

--

Beware, oh beware the bravest of you!

that you don't find yourself singing this tune:

That you are 'better' or 'chosen' or 'spared'-

and the death of the different is 'holy', or 'fair'!

--

Pride is the most abundant sin of all-

Remember that it comes before the fall!

Life will teach you a lesson unlearned-

Over and over until it is learned!

--

If you haven't understood this simple tale-

please allow me to remove this thin veil:

The wolf is a Nazi, a fascist, a creep-

And we are the villagers AND the sheep!

--

Our duty is to respond to the cries.

Investigate and verify for any lies.

--

No matter the time!

No matter the place!

No matter if the wolf has a friendly face!

--

For if the wolf eats well amongst the weak-

What's to stop them from taking all that we keep?!

And wolves are real, are they not?

So why do you think it's some sinister plot?!

--

The wolf in sheep's clothing is a warning.

But a wolf in a suit should be more alarming!

Call out the wolves no matter the cost!

For it will be our lives that are lost!