The Country, When It Chose to Laud

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The country, when it chose to laud
    The swindler and the cheat,
Itself condemned, and gave the nod,
    To vigorous defeat.

Of mourners there were some, a few,
    And some nostalgic wept,
But mostly no one cared, or knew,
    But in soft slumber slept.

We few that noted what had passed,
   Felt tears scald inwardly,
But mostly felt benumbed, aghast,
    And sang no reverie.

The world itself moved on apace,
    And Mother Nature nary
Took pause to notice human grace:
    She had no time to tarry.

Alas, so much of promise, failed;
    So much of glory, died;
And, truth and justice both assailed,
    A people did subside.