The Artful Dodger

The artful dodger
applying his trade;
as pick-pocket of souls
his living he has made.

By the Book of Fagan,
the Old and the New
he's out to recruit
the youth to do
his ministry's work,
able to sway a few.

From an overstuffed chair,
the "tube", or the street,
his sermon he preaches
with passion and heat.

With skill and with cunning -
looking strait in their face -
robbing their innocence with
no feel of disgrace and
clouding their minds
using elegance and grace.

Then he is caught
with the snuff box, red-handed;
and the masses all cry,
"Responsibility is demanded!"

To avoid secular consequence
(at which he is the master)
he pleads to the court
(and to avert spiritual disaster)
by sobbing, "I'm just doing his will,
that of my teacher's faith;
I'm only a pawn,
I am the victim!"