the stake

We know what we won't.
We knew what we do. 
We own what we can't, 
and deny what we cue.

For kith or for kin
and for self and within
and all through,
and all in: 

we fight for our sins. 

For threat and for foe 
we are vigilant yet. 
We read between innocent 
lines on a bet. We find
what we take, saying
they put it in. 

Suspecting, we're right.

We fight for our sins. 

Forgiveness all day 
we pay lip-service to. 
With kindness, respect 
in proportion to due. 
You can't take a chance 
in accounting: round down, 

Or else you'll be the fool 

giving full 
to who's made you 
a clown. 

Which is just what we hate
most of all. Our weakness 
revealed in some ignorant 
sprawl of slapstick and butt 
- we are in on the joke 
just a beat-and-a-half 
too late we awoke. 

So we dig in for strength, 
demonize all divides. 
We align and unite - 
but it must be one side, 
and it must be one's side

for the fight is to win. 
It hangs always on-point,
and poised, and about to begin.