Robin Amy Bass

THE CYNIC – A CLINICAL VIEW

A Cynic is someone who thinks he knows all,
His ego permits him to make every call
He’ll turn every triumph into a defeat
He’ll claim every “A” is the spoil of a cheat.

He points overhead to the clouds as they burst.
He says there is Luck… but his is always the worst.
He scoffs at the guy who’s been waiting on line.
“They’ll run out of tickets… you won’t be in time”

The Cynic’s I’ve met say they’ve been there before
Yes! Most seem to know what lurks behind every door
It’s never the tooth fairy… angel or friend
A Cynic is someone on who you can depend

To tell you, the raise or promotion won’t come.
He arches an eyebrow “like you, I was dumb…
I gave and gave and I never got back
So don’t expect nothin’ and then you won’t lack”

A Cynic’s not always a masculine dude
Though he might predict that he knew I’d exclude
Those skeptics and negative souls known as girls
“You may call me a swine, but she is wearing fake pearls.”

A Cynic reminds you Rome was not built in a day
The mortar was cheap and the bricks would not lay
And he would have told them – if only they’d asked
“Don’t bother to build it – that empire won’t last.”

I’m not sure if Cynics inherit their genes.
Nature or Nurture – their mother were mean?
I’m guessing most Cynics have simply lost hope
Repeat disappointment – it gets harder to cope

And safer to plan, should it all fall apart
The Cynic’s reaction – to a broken heart…
The first thing he does is to transplant his own.
He walls it away and his voice changes tone.

The smile that was there becomes rueful and grim
Or just a straight line – he will not let you in
The songs and harmonics – all have the same note
He draws up the bridge, while you swim around the moat

And though he might offer God Bless to your sneeze
He won’t test the water… he’s sure he will freeze.

“The water is feels great”
“No the water is cold”
“You’re as young as you feel”
“I’m not young – I feel old!”

Though some you’d dub ‘brooders’, most Cynics will gloat!
Of course there’s the one who says, “Why should I vote?”
‘Cause all politicians are always the same
Yeah, everything’s fixed so I won’t play the game”

“Besides, though I like her, she never could win…
Although people say that’s she’s smarter then him
I’ll just sit it out – ‘stead of taking a stand”
The land of the coward – with nowhere to land

A Cynic’s a critic – who thinks it’s a scheme
Convinced he’s a victim – they’ve stolen his dream
A Cynic’s an expert in justified pain.
Sometimes they stay silent, sometimes they explain

He waits for the verdict – says, “It’s no surprise
The accused was found guilty, ‘cause everyone lies”.

The life of Cynic is no life for me.
Where everything costs… and there’s nothing free.
For I would prefer that my cup be half full
I don’t feel the itch – buts the warmth of the wool

They harbor suspicions – stand the pessimist’s ground
They point to experience… but… look what they’ve found
So empty…… I think it’s the Cynic who’s lost.
And no coin will ever recover the cost.

Submitted for the June 2005 IWVPA Club Theme Project, “Cynic/Cynical”