The Bench Marchers

There they go,
The bench marchers,
Marching in solemn solid union.

Good men, maybe even godly,
Honourable men.
Excelling in good intentions,
Competent almost to the point of genius.

Full of gravitas,
Unsmiling faces.
But their hearts are filled to overflowing
With secret delight and silent laughter.

Surely when they depart this world’s negotiating paradise,
Theirs must be eternal salvation.
Surely a grateful joyous membership
Will erect a marble monument
To honour their magnificent deeds,
A monument that will endure
To the end of time.

But, dear brethren,
Let ye not hold your breath.
Yours is but a fleeting fame,
For sadly, all too soon,
Your great deeds
Will inexplicably be forgotten
By those who should
With gratitude remember.

Your great deeds will never again be emulated.
In the future your unique achievement will be re-evaluated
The Benchmark Concept will then be emasculated,
Possibly even castrated,
Crudely, mercilessly, without an anaesthetic.
Confusion, pain, and panic shall reign supreme.
People will wonder is this just a bad dream – If only!
For, on finally awakening to grim reality,
It’s a nightmare in totality
Which must not be endured.
The enemy in a heroic fight must be engaged
‘till justice and fair play prevail,
In this great cause you cannot fail.

Michael Brennan | February 2006