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Well-Armed Lamb

“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch.
Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!”
—Benjamin Franklin

Two wolves and one lone lamb sat down
__to vote upon their lunch.
That’s when the lamb began to frown
__because he had a hunch.
Outnumbered two to one it looked
__as if democracy
would mean that he would soon be cooked
__by the majority.

The lamb did lose, but felt within,
__there must have been a flaw.
He still slept well believing in
__the fairness of the law.
He filed a motion to appeal,
__so he could make his case.
But then his judge smiled to reveal
__sharp fangs and wolfish face.

The judge pronounced “It must be death,”
__while sharpening his knife.
The lamb relaxed and drew a breath,
__unworried for his life.
He said, “I have enjoyed this sham,
__but I love liberty,
and so today, this well-armed lamb
__rejects your tyranny.”

“With great regard, Your Honor, I
__respectfully request
you rule that no lamb needs to die.
__I think you’ll find it best.”
With that, he started to unzip
__a pocket on his side
from which he pulled a gun and clip
__he’d hidden in his hide.

The Judge said, “You misunderstood,
__if there’s one thing I know,
it’s how to tell a lamb that’s good,
__of course, you’re free to go.”
The lamb stood there impassively
__while peering through his sight.
“It looks as if democracy
has finally got things right.”

.

.

Warren Bonham is a private equity investor who lives in Southlake, Texas.

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15 Responses

  1. Bruce Phenix

    Thank you, Warren. This is a brilliant expansion of Franklin’s thought, and extremely skilful in terms of poetic composition.

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham

      I always knew Franklin was a brilliant guy but only recently started diving a little deeper. I don’t know why we don’t produce leaders like him anymore. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem!

      Reply
  2. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Warren what a great story and moral lesson on the defense of democracy and the need for the second amendment. The wolves continue to sharpen their knives. So far, they have been slowed down by the Supreme Court and those in places willing to fight for what is right to save us from extinction. Brilliantly written. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham

      I am proud to be on your team in this fight. I’m very glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  3. Brian A. Yapko

    This is a fantastic parable, Warren, which really illuminates how readily the forces of evil abuse the system to make it appear fair. And it demonstrates that the Second Amendment can’t guarantee the absence of tyranny but it offers a powerful push-back against it. The wolves seem to be everywhere these days and it’s good to be reminded that although they may pretend to be lawful and ordered, they are vicious and malign. Well done!

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham

      All credit to Mr. Franklin for the idea. In a strange way, it’s comforting that tyrannical wolves were feared by good and upright people in his day. They managed to overcome so hope remains for us.

      Reply
  4. Joseph S. Salemi

    It used to be that ordinary unarmed Americans could generally depend on the government to protect their rights and their property.

    Now the government is the wolf that wants your rights and your property, as well as your children.

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham

      Another great American (Reagan) once said that “man is not free unless government is limited”. Our current government is virtually unlimited in its reach and we’re finding out how right Reagan was.

      Reply
  5. Margaret Coats

    Warren, your work gets better and better! Here you pen a prodigious political fable in which pastoral conventions of the lyric genre are not mere machinery, but embellish point after entertaining point. That takes real skill. I laughed aloud when the lamb pulled out the gun and clip that had been “hidden in his hide.” You keep up the legal lingo, too, and the story is all the more imagistically impressive when the lamb’s concluding statement shows the mollified judge is actually terrified. The lamb still has the wolfish official in his crosshairs, and “peering through his sight” [on the gun and in a simple citizen’s political vision], announces that democracy finally “looks” right. It’s a triumph of justice for him and an artistic one for you!

    Reply
    • Warren Bonham

      That praise means a lot! I’m continuing to learn and trying to catch up to the others on this site. I’m really glad you enjoyed this one!

      Reply
  6. Cynthia Erlandson

    Lots of fun and so much truth here, Warren — I love it!

    Reply
  8. C.B. Anderson

    You’ll get no argument from me. All taxation is theft. And the thieves do as little as possible to serve our interests.

    Reply
  9. Daniel Kemper

    That was a very satisfying satire. Without the second amendment, the first doesn’t stand long. Here in CA, they are emboldened enough to challenge the constitutional right itself. Dark days in the sunny state.

    Also, a good argument for the electoral college.

    Reply

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