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homage to hedonia

seize the day
there is tomorrow
seize on joy
to hell with sorrrow

i place on your altar
cocaine and crack
in your great temple
no pleasure shall lack

for some you're a cigarette
joy wrapped in paper
or a charas-filled chillum
which high doesn't taper

some seek you in wine
they sip you, they sniff you
for some you're in toddy
they straightforward quaff you

you're a sachet of gutkha
a snort of some snuff
for some you're in shoe-
polish or similar stuff

some seek you in sport
they seek victory
on top of a mountain
in the surf of the sea

some scared of defeat
choose the spectator-box
for them you're the win
of the boston red sox

some seek to seduce
the one they adore
weaker ones seek you
in the arms of a whore

some think you exist
in things they acquire
they think they find you
when stocks rise higher

you're the immortal name
that some seek to conquer
like a gandhi did once
with protest and hunger

some call you glory
they seek you in war
they slaughter young soldiers
so that their fame spreads far

your homage demands
great sacrifice
only the flower
of youth shall suffice

you suckle our youth
you feed on our reason
we think you will stay
with us every season

appear the first wrinkle
and you forsake us
pain seeks her revenge
and appropriates us

yet every angel
or devil of wrath
follow upon your
rose-bestrewn path

no gods can match you
o heartless hedonia
all life I do seek you
in death i shall have you

(work in progress. first stanza taken from hrf keating)

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