Marduke The Mighty (Short Version) Poem by Bowie Allmon

A. Halt thee, wanderer of lush forests and born lands
B. Hold your place, sit, and listen to my tale
C. The wanderer, confused, stares at his hands
B. It starts of with the peasant Marduke, bitter and frail
B. The wanderer sitting back to relax, takes off his heavy chain mail
A. In Athens of Greece, the ancient city that still stands...

A. Millenia ago, when Alexander conquered and Aristotle saw
B. There was Marduke, known by none, and living on dirt
C. Surviving on cloth and scraps and hunting, eating his meat raw
B. 'Thou wastes my time! ', says the wanderer ready to leave, putting on his shirt
B. 'Sit and hark! ', the stranger commands. 'Mouth me no more, hold in what you blurt! '
A. The stranger continues, 'outcasted and exiled for practice of breaking law

A. The hungry thief, smuggling bread from stall to stall
B. Is captured and brutally imprisoned in Athens great dungeon
C. Put in a cell with men of different ranks, murderers, vandals, burglars, and all
B. Sits alone, he chooses, keeping happiness in one piece with use of various entheogens
B. Then a convicted mad man strikes him on face, retaliates he with force of bludgeon
A. The mad man falls with gaping wound in head, Marduke receives applause

A. 'Tis a miracle you've done Marduke, ridding us of him
B. No more are we tortured and tantalized by the man of madness
C. Marduke, having killed in defense before replies, 'his chances were slim
B. The prisoners, bringing Marduke what's left of stolen wine, yearn for his gladness
B. Gladness he achieves from such luxurious drink suddenly turns to great despair and sadness
A. The thief is not just thirsty for wine, but for mens blood in which he swims

A. Calls out a royal guard, whose heart has sunk no whose eyes have seen
B. There is a cold blooded murderer and scoundrel amongst us
C. Guards rushing through the hills, racing to the bloody scene
B. Seize Marduke by the arms, their countenance showing disgust
B. He is forced into solitary confinement, his company, chains and rust
A. 'Sleeping I am' he assures himself, ''Tis only a dream'

A. The heavy iron door is closed, darkness engulfs he
B. 'Tis not a dream... He tells himself, but a living hell
A. Marduke, depressed and sleep deprived, is brought daily, bread crumbs and rancid tea...
C. So ends the story of Marduke the Mighty...