ninehillsRAMBLE in the JUNGLE
PoliTrickster vs The People
By Wanaku Verdzekov · · Global
Tags: poem, politics, cultural-dexterity
A government without its people, moot,
For the core concern is absolute:
The People, not a group or trick,
Especially not the storyteller's shtick.
When politics forgets the people's role,
All bets are off, it takes its toll.
The question is, how do we discern
What are a politrickster's true concerns?
It's not rocket science, but a blend
Of political thought and cultural trend.
In today's world, so vast and wide,
Cultural dexterity must be our guide.
There once was a politrickster so sly,
Who thought he could fool every eye.
But the people, they knew
What was false and what's true,
And they called out his every lie.
TM
— Wanaku Verdzekov
Reading & grammar
Reading level: Gr 8–10
Understand
- What does the poem say about a government without its people?
- What two things does the speaker say you need to spot a politrickster?
- How does the limerick at the end resolve the story?
Grammar focus: portmanteau words. Politrickster blends politics and trickster. A word made by fusing two words is a portmanteau (like brunch = breakfast + lunch). The author uses this one often to criticize politicians.
Try it: Make two portmanteau words of your own and use each in a sentence.
Discuss: Is it fair to call politicians "tricksters"? Argue whether the label helps or harms public debate.