that whimper we keep hearing about

schools are chained and padlocked
homes barred and latched up tight
dogs brought inside and hushed
even interstates snuffed of light

under blankets children hidden
slumped wives drivel drunk with fear
men despair in gibbered prayer
the unstoppable inevitably near

for the robots dance at midnight
till the bells all chime at dawn

law shut and shelved the books
clergy refuse to calm or collect
soldiers abandon silent generals
the front finds nothing to protect

for the robots will dance at midnight
then the bells will crack the dawn

warnings faltered in vain harumphs
all who heeded sneered and ignored
the masses plugged into the virtual
as for reality, we cut the chord