Poem: "In Good Cause"
This poem came out of the November 1, 2011 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by laffingkat and sponsored by janetmiles.
It belongs to the Ocracies series, and you can find the other poems through the Serial Poetry page. Ironically, I could not find a named form of government focused on happiness, well-being, good, or humor -- although there were plenty about evil and demons and all flavors of mayhem -- which says something about governments and human nature. So I coined the term "bonocracy." Worth mentioning is that Bhutan tracks Gross National Happiness. There is some basis in consensus reality for such a governmental theme.
In Good Cause
It was difficult to be a diplomat
in the Bonocracy of Ophele.
You would state the obvious,
and people would look at you
like you'd grown another head
and say something ridiculous.
On one side lay the Plutocracy of Aurea,
whose delegates were prone to respond:
"Of course happiness is important,
but you can't put it in the bank."
On the other side lay the Hamarchy of Helgi,
whose delegates were prone to respond:
"Of course well-being is important,
but that depends on whose."
Inland on the rolling plains lay the Hipparchy of Pelip,
whose delegates were prone to respond:
"Of course it's important for things to be good,
but are they good for the horses?"
You could spend all day negotiating
for whatever seemed most likely to promote
happiness, well-being, and good humor
with colleagues who seemed to grasp none of the above
and who made proposals devoid of sense and benefit.
In the evening, though, you got to go home
to your cozy little house with your family
and sit by the fire with a cup of cocoa
and listen to the waves booming on the beach outside.
Then you'd remember, after that long hard day,
how lucky you were to live in a country
that always aimed for the best it could achieve;
and when you went to bed, at least you'd know
that all of your exhaustion was
in good cause.