Hugo Chavez Is Dead

Hugo Chavez is dead,

His red hat put aside,

His rifle put aside,

His fat and forceful face gone,

His Venezuelan swagger no more.

While he was with us he fought the fight,

Trying to wrest from the big ones a share

For the little ones. 

Siding predictably with those 

Who have been dealt a poor hand.

Of course, his wresting was not pretty.

Of course, his struggle was tainted

By selfishness and a certain dark relishing,

Of ugly enjoyment and sadism. 

Is this how progress is marked?

Red-faced Hugo Chavez—

Passion for the cause of the poor

Are on the scale with his selfish lust.

Is this not the persistent cene:

Scales, good, vices ?

And we move forward.