Changing the world forever for better

by Eric Chaet

From Athens, galleys propelled by 3 tiers of slaves with oars
carried red & black vases with handles
filled with olive oil & wine
& heavily-armed foot-soldiers & orators who’d studied sophistry
who proclaimed to citizens, & women, slaves, & children
of islands & coastal cities all over the Mediterranean Sea
how it would be.

Each year, 600 oligarchs casting ballots
(they used shards of broken vases)
voted to ostracize & expel the Athenian who most upset
efficient execution of their exploitation plans.

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Also posted at Beyond the Pale