The Bones

We build ourselves up on the bones of the vanquished
Whether bloody and real or metaphorical matters not
From the schoolyard to the boardroom table
From statehood to sainthood
There is a trail of blood and guts and bone
And at its head there is a bloodthirsty man or woman
Always vying for more
More of what is almost unimportant
Just as long it can be sold to the masses
The believers
Since they are the very first to be slaughtered
And their bones are the foundation of power
From slogans to smartphones they must believe
Or they will not fight for what's being sold or said
Bigger borders to bigger bellies to wallets more full and bigger tv's too
There are a thousand ways to stir the heart
And the propagandists know them well
Bringing lambs to the slaughter
In the halls of power
They know who you are
And they tell you what you're willing to die for
And fight for
Either way you leave your bones under their feet
And they stand among the ruins
And beat their chests
And proclaim that it all was worth it