penny candy

make mention
fool
of the new apostasies
the cold hard
cash,
like a beggar
and his crusted bread
like a bond trader
and his trophy wife.

make words
fool
of our pending democracies
with cold hard
calculation,
like Columbus
departing in his Santa Maria
like Custer
and the grass that now grows in his stead.

make more
fool
of the old and glorious
those time attested
truths,
like red dragon scales
and a breathless drear
like Justice
in her gown of perfect measure.

but
dare not question
fool
our weighted expectation
a new currency of
toleration,
like penny candy
on a tooth that's sweet
like a tumor
on its course of silent sabotage.