'Throwaway Lines'

When a politician

Says in a speech a thing

The people know he doesn’t mean,

Many call the lie a throwaway line

And let him be, for, so wise,

They have outgrown wrong and right.

When, just as heedless, men and women

Offer a prayer of thanks to God the King,

Whether long or short, thoughtful or hurried,

Before binge-eating

And binge-watching

And binge-buying,

They too have not simply

Thrown away some empty

Lines, but all their being.