Keep Your Nose Clean! Poem by John Thorkild Ellison

Somebody opened his can of worms
And see how the villain twitches and squirms!
The camera comes out and someone says 'Smile!
The neighbours all think you're a paedophile! '
Listen to you! You bellow and squeal,
We're breaking your spirit on our Virtuous Wheel.
You claim you're a scapegoat, don't make me laugh!
If you had a spine I'd break it in half,
But you haven't got one, you're just a worm
And we're getting our kicks from watching you squirm!
Later, perhaps, after a civilized tea
We'll sit on the sofa and watch our T.V.
Isn't it strange how most of the time
We relish these stories of violent crime?
There's something inside us that likes to be scared
And we'd join in the action if only we dared.
Thinking like this makes me feel insecure -
What if my intentions are not quite so pure?
What if I fancied a bit on the side?
I'd like to reach out but my hands are tied.
What would my friends and the neighbours think?
I'd better behave or there'll be a hell of a stink! !