The Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorder lists
Over three hundred (often mystical)
Depictions of warped behavior—brain twists.
But what, I wonder, does DISORDER mean?
You’d think those rapt, wise men should first agree
(With some precision), on a crisp and clean
Depiction of what ORDER just must be.
When ancients heard the voice of god, they looked,
Listened, and acted—with no “ifs” or “buts.”
They, thus, became enshrined in holy books.
Today they’d grace the DSM—plain nuts.
Some seven billion folks inhabit Earth
Who cower, bow before invented hordes—
Those gods and goddesses of doubtful birth—
And pray for peace while launching holy wars.
Eight Shinto gods and Buddha disagree—
Each Hindu god grows countless avatars—
Yahweh, Allah, or one true god who’s three—
How can we dress our minds in such strange garb?
We’ve walked the moon, examined planet Mars
And new technologies have honed us keen—
Yet holy men don costumes so bizarre
They make each day a cosmic Halloween!
A fifth edition’s in the works I hear,
Embellishing our brain-defective list.
Add in RELIGION—held by most so dear—
Eternal work for our psychiatrists!
(6/19/12)