The Laughing Jackboot

[Stephen Whiteside]

The Laughing Jackboot

© Stephen Whiteside 23.11.2012

The laughing jackboot doesn't sit
Upon a tree branch. Not a bit.
He doesn't flashingly swoop down
To strike a tiger or king brown.
He doesn't care if he is king.
He doesn't really even sing,
And yet he always finds a way
To meet his needs, at end of day.

The laughing jackboot doesn't care
To be half of a matching pair;
He's quite prepared to hunt alone,
And eat his tucker on his own.
His tongue is large. His heel is strong.
He needs no more to get along,
And snakes are wise that slide around
Him when he's stomping on the ground.

The laughing jackboot looks inert.
It doesn't look like it could hurt
A mozzie, bumblebee or fly.
It looks quite harmless. That is why
It eats so heartily each morning,
Pouncing with no hint of warning.
The pleasure never wanes or dulls
For jumping snakes to crush their skulls.

The laughing jackboot's heartless laugh
Denotes another epitaph
Of lizard, snake, or other beast
He's bashed or smashed to make a feast.
I don't like it much, but then,
When have my thoughts mattered? When?
Or, come to think of it, yours, too,
Don't really count a brass razoo.

The laughing jackboot has no quarrel,
And this story has no moral.
He lives to kill. He lives to eat.
Thus life's cycle is complete.
One day, also, he will die,
And snakes will eat him - well, they'll try.
My guess is, they'll spoil the meal
By gagging on his leather heel!

[Neville Briggs]

hmmm interesting

[Maureen K Clifford]

Probably not your intent but as I read this the image of the loud mouthed racist bogan who verbally attacked the French lass on the bus sprang into mind - the only thing missing from his demeanour was Jackboots and a Nazi uniform

You are on a roll Stephen with your witty and clever writings

Cheers

Maureen

[Stephen Whiteside]

Thank you for your interesting comment, Maureen (and to you, too, Neville, for your 'interesting' comment).

It struck me as a dark rather than a witty poem, Maureen, but I suppose it is possible for it to be both.