MALDIVE SHARK by Herman Melville

About the Shark, phlegmatical one,
Pale sot of the Maldive sea,
The sleek little pilot-fish, azure and slim
How alert in attendance be.
From his saw-pit mouth, from his charnel of maw
They have nothing of harm to dread,
But liquidly glide on his ghastly flank
Or before the Gorgonian head;
Or lurk in the port of serrated teeth
In white triple tiers of glittering gates,
And there find a haven when peril’s abroad,
An asylum in jaws of the Fates!
They are friends; and friendly they guide him to prey,
Yet never partake of the treat-
Eyes and brains to the dotard lethargic and dull,
Pale ravener of horrible meat.

Think of Big Brother Obama’s government as the ravener Maldive shark and dependant citizens as pilot-fish, hangers-on, not only beneficiaries of its protection but also (unfortunately) non-participants in the insatiable, bounteous feeding frenzy financed by taxes and penalties. America is still America. 17 roller coasters are at just one amusement park in Ohio. 88 million crazies paid to vote in the semi-final of American Idol. Shareholders ( the actual supporters ) of GM receive only1% of ownership in the out-of-court revamping of the company’s bankruptcy plan. The good, the bad and the ugly continue to be mish-mashed in our brave, new Obama world.