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I rewrote it some. With apologies to Kipling. ◾AS I PASS through my incarnations before each age and race, ◾And I proffer my Prostrations to the Gods of the Market Place. ◾Peering through my fragile fingers I would watch them flourish and fall, ◾As the Gods of the Copybook Headings, anticipate them all. ◾We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn ◾That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire certainly burns: ◾While we found them lacking in Uplift, in Vision and Breadth of Mind, ◾We left them to teach Gorillas; while we struck out to find Mankind. ◾We expand as their Spirit listed; They never altered their pace, ◾Being neither cloud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market Place, ◾They always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come; ◾Their tribe had conquered endless icefields, while the lights were out in Rome. ◾With the Hopes that our World is built on they were ever out of touch, ◾As they denied the Moon was Stilton; they denied that she was Dutch; ◾While they denied the Wishes Horses; they denied a Pig had Wings; ◾The Gods of the Market Place purchased every unproductive thing. ◾When the Cambrian mounts divided, They promised persistant peace. ◾Swearing, if we would leave our weapons, that the tribal wars would cease. ◾But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us to our foe, ◾The Gods of the Copybook Headings: "Keep the Devil you know." ◾On the first Feminian Sandstones; they promised the Fuller Life ◾(Which starts by loving our neighbour and not by us loving his wife) ◾Until our women had no children and the men lost faith and breath, ◾Said the Gods of the Copybook Headings "The Wage of Sin is Death." ◾In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promised stuff for all, ◾By robbing selected Peter to provide for collective Paul; ◾Although we had our money plenty; nothing could our money buy, ◾Said the Gods of the Copybook Headings; "If you don't work you die." ◾The Gods of the Market Place tumbled, while their wizards now withdrew ◾The stubborn hearts of haughty humbled, and believed it now be true ◾That All that Glitters is not Gold; however Two and Two make Four ◾The Gods of the Copybook Headings would explain it all once more. ◾As they fortold it to the future, starting with the birth of Man ◾That our nature would keep us steady since the Progress has began. ◾The Dog returneth to his Vomit; as the Sow goes to her Mire, ◾As the bandaged Fool's finger burnt itself inside the Fire; ◾When our Society is finished, and the brave new world begins ◾And all our men are paid for living and no Man must pay for sin, ◾And as surely the Water wet us; and as surely the Fire burns, ◾The Gods of the Copybook Headings with their slaughter now return!