Sour Smell Of Success Poem by Edith Oram

Beware the pretenders they're not whom they seem,
Beings existing 'twixt half-truths and lies.
They won't balk or stall at fulfilling their dreams
Visions of grandeur, mirrored worldwide.

Chillingly ruthless they pursue their goals,
They flatter, they faun, they praise to excess,
Climbing the ladder runged with wronged souls,
Betraying their friends to achieve their success.

Plateaux once breached they never look back
At the wantonly wasted waifs on the heap
War victims, sweat shop slaves, white through to black,
Corridors of corruption, life held too cheap.

Fat cats and despots, tyrants in power,
Ambitious go-getters treading on toes,
War mongers, arms dealers grow by the hour
People abusers, mind numbing blows.

Is this Armageddon, the end of all life?
Heed warning signs, wake up, stand up and fight.
Let's work together to end all the strife,
Depart from the dark and head towards the light.