The Invasion Of Norman D (Poetry)

A careful unassuming man was tenant Norman D.
He lived alone — few visitors — no loving family.
He valued most his peace and quiet and sense of privacy.
He paid his rent on time and thought they’d therefore leave
                                        him be.

But petty laws were slyly passed to thwart the common man
to interfere and bully every single chance they can —
forever finding reasons to invade the rented home
’til Norman simply couldn’t call a single brick his own.

Frantically he searched for help in hope to find some way
to keep them out — despairing what their letters seemed to say —
those landlords riding roughshod through his basic human rights
the endless worry made him sick and kept him up at nights.

As time went on he weakened — growing nervous and depressed
few really understood the cause of his intense distress
once he discovered those ideals his generation taught
did not apply — no justice ruled of old tradition’s sort.

New rules squeezed into small print allow suits to snoop and pry
and make it all sound legal — threaten court — ignore the cry
of anyone like Norman who lack power — money — clout.
Official tanks ran over him — no means to block them out.

So in his mind they’ve stolen that last vestige — false or not —
and trashed without a conscience his small castle — all he’d got
now he broods among those ruins... Norman D.. counts what is left
prays the promised land is freehold — he surrenders — welcomes

Death.