Words.

• Author: Benedetti, Mario
• Position: Poem

Don't waste all those words on me

Or change what they really say.

You see, the things that I want

Are to me as clear as day.

If you mouth off about progress

Just so you can hog the floor,

Know that we all understand

Ahead is not the back door.

If you denounce violent deeds

While keeping us in gun sight

And violence comes back to haunt you,

Don't complain about your plight.

When you stand up for commitment

Just to protect your backyard,

Watch out, the people can hoist you

On your very own petard.

So don't waste your words on me

Or change what they really say,

You see, the things that I want

Are to me as clear as day.

If you talk peace, yet it's known

That torture is your addiction,

Please know there's a final cure

For that strange sort of affliction.

If the land reforms you draw up

Remain ink and ballyhoo,

Watch out, the people advancing

Bring the soil to bury you.

If you preach sovereignty

while you sell our country cheap

No one will have any doubts

You are a sovereign rubbish heap.

So don't get those words all dirty

Or water down their resolution

And you better...