Thurman P. Woodfork

YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD CYNIC

One who regards the world with scorn
Ignoring the roses in favor of thorns
So busy judging that he never learns
To truly discriminate or discern

When real sincerity is on display…
There are no yeas, only endless nays.
Simple altruism is instantly rejected
While selfishness is always expected.

His delight seems to be to smother
The joy and freedom felt by others.
Everything is, to his jaded view,
Corrupt and tired and far from new.

Never expect to hear him cheer
His modus operandi is to jeer
In his tireless efforts to make us see
That selflessness can never be.

A little skepticism is good for us all,
But, taken too far, it quickly palls.
I think we’d very much prefer to see
The basic decency in you – and me.

©Copyright May 30, 2005 by Thurman P. Woodfork

YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD CYNICS
(The Androgynous Version)

Those who regard the world with scorn
Ignoring the roses in favor of thorns
So quick to judge that they never learn
To truly discriminate or discern

When real sincerity is on display…
There are no yeas, only endless nays.
Simple altruism is instantly rejected
While selfishness is always expected.

Their delight seems to be to smother
The joy and freedom felt by others.
Everything is, to their jaded view,
Corrupt and tired and far from new.

Never expect to hear them cheer
Their modus operandi is to jeer
In a tireless effort to make us see
That selflessness can never be.

A little skepticism is good for us all,
But, taken too far, it quickly palls.
I think we’d very much prefer to be
Able to find goodness in you – and me.

©Copyright May 30, 2005 by Thurman P. Woodfork