the observer

it is my task only to note the hap

you may not ask me to take up a side

there is no honest claim here to abide

nor to pass on just listen for the clap

of daily thunder and wait for the snap

as rushing fools in their great haste collide

and will not yield because of spite or pride

when you see this you understand the trap

the only job that pays has its own cost

you won't find out until you've signed the form

and by that time you are no longer whole

but fallen deep among the wholly lost

ashamed to say you had not felt the storm

but sorry at the low price of your soul