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WEF, Davos, ‘23—A Modern Reply

after “Endless Pleasure, Endless Love”*

Endless hooey, endless snow,
We’re exposed to here below.
Ever on their riches leaning,
Our tormentors strew their lies;
While their true intentions screening,
They blow smoke into our eyes.

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*from the libretto, for Handel’s oratorio Semele,
by William Congreve, Hamilton Newburgh, and
possibly Alexander Pope; text here.

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Julian D. Woodruff, who contributes poetry frequently to the Society of Classical Poets, writes poetry and short fiction for children and adults. He recently finished 2020-2021, a poetry collection. A selection of his work can be read at Parody Poetry, Lighten Up Online, Carmina Magazine, and Reedsy.

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The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.

20 Responses

    • Julian D. Woodruff

      Ah! Maybe that’s the game all these magi and savants should be occupied with.

      Reply
  3. Joseph S. Salemi

    Did anybody get a look at Gore and Kerry? Two walking corpses (both physically and intellectually) from the 60s fiesta.

    Reply
  4. Lannie David Brockstein

    Why does the semi-circle of the “wOrld ecOnomic fOrum” logo, as shown on the main image of this webpage, go through the letter O of each line?

    Because doing so forms a stylized 666, as does its Satanic mantra to “6uild 6ack 6etter”.

    Reply
    • Joseph S. Salemi

      A simpler explanation is that there is zero intellectual content in the entire racket.

      Reply
      • Julian D. Woodruff

        Can’t watch–I’d run from the room screaming. (That makes me think of Walker Percy’s “ravening particles.)

    • Julian D. Woodruff

      Neat! It would be tidier if they could suppress that 2nd “o” in “economic,” though. Maybe they’re working on that.

      Reply
  5. Margaret Coats

    Nice job with the text, Julian. Don’t know that I would want to hear it endlessly repeated!

    Reply
    • Julian D. Woodruff

      Semele–endless pleasure (almost, anyway). This–once should do it.

      Reply
  6. C.B. Anderson

    The most surprising thing, Julian, is that none of the people attending this conference have expressed concern over all the hot air that is being generated there.

    Reply
  7. Paul Freeman

    Davros is Dr Who’s perennial nemesis. Could they by any chance be related?

    Reply
  9. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Julian, thank you for drawing attention to this heinous debacle… everyone needs to be aware of who running and ruining the Western world. Poetry is an excellent medium for opening minds and eyes.

    Reply
    • Julian D. Woodruff

      Susan, call it a stimulus, call it a crutch–every so often an old lyric hits me in a new way. I never know when it’s gonna happen, but at least it’s a bit of fun, esp with targets like this and so many others of 3 letters.

      Reply

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