Reestablishing the Norms of Old

Around about forty-four
Centuries ago, there lived
The first ruler known to boast

About his efforts to curb
Corruption in officials.
How’s that working out for you,

Mighty rulers, all these years
Since then? Ah, generations
Are endlessly annoying,

Each one starting all over
Again. Babies are out there,
Dragging their heavy diapers,

Who will be despots one day,
And a fresh generation
Prone to corruption will rise

To swindle countries with them,
Over and over again.
A few will get caught, and then

Someone will post ghost-written
Proclamations announcing
Punishing reformations.

Maybe the cycle will end.
Every wobbly cycle fails
Eventually. It will,

With or without officials
Or reformers or humans.
Until then, someone will claim,

To have restored high morals
By some kind of forceful purge,
Although much of nothing’s changed.