Poetry – Page 17

[villanelle: a privilege of hypocrites] by n. speck

the last shall be first and the first shall be last,
but they are just lazy, we quickly surmise -
encased in perfection we drive along past.

black marker on cardboard. we, passive, aghast,
despise tangled beards and deepset wrinkled eyes -
the last shall be first and the first shall be last.

give all to the needy, if any thou hast;
remember that they may be angels disguised.
encased in perfection we drive along past.

intangibly righteous we pray and we fast,
and crossing the sidewalk mark read our replies.
the last shall be first and the first shall be last.

but when our eyes open, are we the outcast?
and can we explain why we’re struck with surprise?
encased in perfection we drive along past.

but i’ve done the same, though i try to contrast -
oh God, our hearts harden. please open our eyes.
the last shall be first and the first shall be last;
encased in perfection we drive along past.