A Study of Larceny - by Mark Oliver Vonnegut

A Study of Larceny

by Mark Oliver Vonnegut

The World is a thief, a vandal, and you a palace, My friend:

The World would empty your treasury

Would set alight your library

Would hold a gun to your head

Hold out a sack and say,

“Your wallet, your jewels, your trinkets; Your life comes later”

Would put a knife in your hand

With a smirk and say,

"Your paintings: slash them

Your statues: scar them"

Would watch you weep

The World would take its keep

Would watch you obey—

The weapon is in my hand

He is without arms

But you do it, you pray—

Would watch you fall

Would light a match

Burn the ruined paintings

Would pull a hammer out—

The weapon was in His hand

He was always in control

You knew that anyway—

Smash the statues

Turn to you and say,

“See what I can make?”

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The World is cruel to you, my friend. Yes.

The World is cruel to Them too, my friends.

Not like to me—

No, like you.

But They are cruel—

Indeed they are.

And so are you.

Did you not see

What it could make you do?

How it could make you bleed?

How—

No.

Why—

Colder.

What—

Go on.

What did I—

No. Warmer.

What can I do?

Vengeance.

This World snaps my heart.

Sew it back together.

Steals my soul.

Take it back.

Crushes my hope.

Rebuild it.

Uses me.

Use it.

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A debt is owed.

An Eye for an eye.

The World is cruel to you, my friend. Yes.

What will you do?

Be cruel in kind.

The World steals from you, my friend. Yes.

What would you do?

I would empty His dragon’s hoard Would set alight His infinity

Would hold a sword to His heart Hold out a sack and say,

“My wallet, My jewels, My trinkets; My life to me”

Would put rope in His hand

With a smirk and say,

“Your hands: bind them”

Would watch Him growl

The World would see my joy

Would watch me heal—

His Might is so great

Your sword is small

But I rob Him anyway—

Would watch Him glare

Would take my clay

Fill the sculpted scars

Would flourish my brush—

The weapon is in Your hand

His is not the only ace

I swindle the Cheat in kind—

Repaint my house

Turn to Him and say,

“See what I can make?”

The World is cruel to Them too, my friends.

“Yes.”

The World steals from Them too, my friends.

“Yes.”

What would you do?

I would fill Their cavernous coffers Would set alight Their eyes

Would hold a knife to His belly

Hand Them my sword and say,

“Our wallets, Our jewels, Our trinkets; Our lives to us”

Would put twine in Their hands

Force up a smile and say,

“Your rope: make it”

Would watch Them breathe

The World would see

their gasps Would watch Them rise, say,

“The power is in His hand

We are without arms”

Would say,

“But We rob Him anyway”

Would watch Them glare

Would take my hands

Soothe Their worldly scars

Would flourish my hand—

“The cards are in Our hands

His is not the only Full House

His hand is not so very great—”

Wipe off His blood

Turn to Them and say,

“What can We make?”