The Conqueror's Catechism

I. To Loot Without End

A few articles of faith of the conqueror's catechism,
Today's reading is taken from the dictator's handbook
The opening verses of that first chapter eschewed euphemism
Unvarnished, they presented the entire dubious outlook
However, let me not be accused of jaundiced elitism
Or be branded by an undoubted notion of activism
The skeptic's credo is a philosophy I strive to inhabit
The conqueror's catechism bears careful study, to wit:

The conqueror's first instinct is to demonstrate dominance
In this respect, it matters not if there is blood on his hands
The second, looting, is closely related to the foregoing sense of impunity,
It stands to reason: to the victors go the spoils, such is their authority
The rest can contemplate their losses,
   having nothing to spend but miseries
Later one can add fine words, ideological grounding,
   and revise the histories
Appeals to higher ideals to justify the slaughter, and age old theft
Obscene, and indeed, oft seen, in the immediate aftermath of conquest

Barrels of ink handily supplied to the printing press
Waves of propaganda are then duly launched in earnest
There is no need to even pay naysayers lip service
For media factotums will be there to clean up your mess
Benin bronzes and Elgin marbles are just deserts
Not to mention copping a pound of nubile flesh
As to the harems that are yours to keep
To quote Saki, beauty is only sin deep

The idea is to buckle down and loot without end
To ravage at will until you are finally spent
Then start again the next day, if things are not to your liking
For examples, one need not hearken to Conquistadors or Vikings
The swagger of foraging buccaneers is quite familiar
Some say modern day corporate raiders are akin to coup makers
The more brazen the outrage the better, it's all yours for the taking
Norms, being man made, are perfectly designed for shattering

Conqueror's Catechism, a playist

A soundtrack for this note bookended by the cool ruler himself, Gregory Isaacs, and heavy on the reggae angle of things. (spotify version)

• Cool Ruler Comes Again by Gregory Isaacs
• I am the Conqueror by Dennis Brown
• Duppy Conqueror by Bob Marley
• Winner by Omar
• The Winner Takes It All by ABBA
• Stoop to Conquer by Original Wings International
  The reaction to the trauma of Biafra played out a decade later even in afrobeat funk.
• Los Conquistadores Chocolatés by Johnny Hammond
• The Spoils by Massive Attack & Hope Sandoval
• The Winner by Alton Ellis
• Oh What a Feeling by Gregory Isaacs

The Conqueror's Catechism

A few articles of faith

1. To Loot Without End
2. Droit de Seigneur
3. The Dictator Dictates
4. An Iron Fist
5. The Ruler's Rules
6. The Heavy Mantle

This piece went beyond a haiku to become positively Talmudic in scope, hence I'll split it and dispense over the next week. Or you can wait for the book...

I nominate this internal displacement for the Things Fall Apart series under the banner of Fallen Angels.

Next in Part 2: Droit de Seigneur

File under: humour, satire, culture, blood, sin, greed, poetry, observation, rogues, dictator, gremlins, perception, huhudious, hatchet job, violence, strategy, Fallen Angels, Observers are worried, Things Fall Apart, toli

Writing log: Concept: May 1, 2006; April 1, 2021

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