Us and Them

Death and taxes

It was a tiny town. Just a few neighbours. They gave us machines to produce ten times more, but we wouldn't use them. So they threatened to execute us, but we wouldn't fight or run. We had boats and wagons but there was nowhere to go. We had armour and weapons but that was no way to resist. Then they made us pay taxes, but they took it all for themselves.

Our food was delicious, our clothes were beautiful, our homes were peaceful, our ways were friendly. Neighbouring towns within sight of each other, our chickens and dogs could hear one another. Neighbours died of old age and weren't cruel or kind to each other.