I wrote a fragment of something rhythmic back in 1995 -- a poem? a song? a chant? It could've been any of those -- and never finished it, but remembered it. Now, as I've thought more about cynics, I've been thinking of revising it. So, here is the current version. If I have time later I might also post the original version of this...

Death By Cynicism, or The Cynics' Chant

Nothing works, nothing's right, is what we smart ones realize
The status quo is now just right to hurt so many, many lives
Of the bungled and the botched that they will lose, as we surmise
So never mind, so give it up, and all we'll do is criticize

To demonize is such a blast, oh it's a great fun thing
Really, you can trust me: It's so easy, it's like nothing
I just have to bitch and moan, exclaim and demagogue
And let hope and love and dreams get swallowed up in mental smog

Edited to Add: Here is the 1995 (or maybe 1996, now that I think abut it) version of the above:

Nothing works, nothing's right, is what we now realize
The status quo is too messed up, and it will cost so many lives
Of the bungled and the botched that they will lose, as I surmise
So never mind, so give it up, and all we'll do is criticize

To destroy lives is such a blast; oh it's a great fun thing
Really, you can trust me: It's so easy to do nothing
I just have to bitch and moan, exclaim and demagogue
And let hope and love and dreams get swallowed up in mental smog

The bit about "the bungled and the botched" is Nietszche by way of The Fisher King, when Jeff Bridges is drunk under the statue: "Ever read any Nietszche? Nietszche said there are two kinds of people in the world: those who are destined for greatness like Walt Disney...and Hitler...then there's the rest of us. He called us the bungled and the botched. We get teased. We may come close to greatness but we'll never get there..." It seemed the right cynical thing to add.


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