Have You No Shame?

Would you like some? How much

Do you think you might need

To go over it all

Evenly, to cover

The ground? Shame is fertile,

Always has been, always

Rich in bones and pink worms,

Night soil and nitrogen.

It’s tough to grow humans

From stony, shameless earth,

But spread a little dread

Of stocks and pillories,

Hisses, index fingers—

Of being stripped and loathed

As wicked nastiness—

And you can raise your own

Armies of shamed humans

Rooted in righteousness.

This is not ironic.

This is a farming fact.

Shame is necessary

For regeneration

Of cooperators.

Now, how much would you like?