This ol' fart...

THIS OL' FART
(to the tune of "This Ole House")


This ol' fart once raised his children
This ol' fart once loved his wife
And he kept his family safe
As they fought the storms of life.

And while he went to work each day
Just to keep the the ends all met
He gladly gave half of his pay
To all taxmen he met.

Now his arthritis is disabling
And his bones have gotten slight...
Now he has some trouble hearing
And his eyes don't see the light

He may not recognize you
When you visit his small room
His blanket may drop to the floor
As the winter shadows loom

So he's really not too useful
As the world around him turns
As the Death Panel has told us
"No more meds" for him we learn.

And they say...

"Ain't a gonna need this fart no longer
Ain't a gonna need this fart no more
Ain't got time to fix his shingles
Ain't got time to salve his sores

"Ain't got time for an operation
That would give him six months more
Ain't got time to waste resources
That's what "reallocation's" for."

The family lowers his blinds softly
And slowly leave his room
They say that they'll see him again
When the roses are in bloom.

And the Death Panels march on
They, too, leave this fart behind,
As they decide who's born or dies
While out of sight is out of mind...

---JGreene, 2011