Benign malfeasance—
a clerk’s smile at the counter,
forms stamped in triplicate,
the theft already filed away.
Benignly malfeasant—
the handshake that
seals a bargain of loss,
harm notarized in blue ink.
The benignity of malfeasance—
a phrase spoken in committee,
grave courtesy masking
floorboards quietly sold.
Malfeasance, benign on paper—
accounts balanced
by subtracting the poor,
kindness measured in fines.
Malfeasance benignified—
a pageant of loopholes,
the judge applauds,
the thief wears a sash.
Benign malfeasance,
malfeasant benignity,
mal‑benign‑feasance—
syllables stumble,
the mask splits,
the phrase devours itself.
And then the phrase signs your name.
.
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Author:
crypticbard (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: December 2nd, 2025 05:36
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 42
- Users favorite of this poem: Friendship, Thomas W Case, Tristan Robert Lange
Offline)
Comments9
Well written, my friend, the poem explores the concept of "benign malfeasance," suggesting that actions intended to be harmless can still lead to damaging or unethical outcomes. It critiques the bureaucratic and societal systems that allow for harm to be masked by politeness, legality, and superficial kindness.
Many thanks, dear Friendship 🙏🏻🕊️
I hear the indignation in this write Cryptic an outrage in quiet that infuses into the bureaucratic papers of justice. Oversights wiped away with a shrug injustice with an "I don't make the rules" an injury with the response "sorry about that" treated at the counter with the words "unfortunately" Better that they be open and just say "fuck you" An oversight, laziness padded with indifference and who suffers. As they say "that's the way it goes" Great write my friend
It occurs even in places where it should never happen. 🙏🏻🕊️
Brilliant.
Thanks, Thomas🙏🏻🕊️
Sounds like some shifty or dodgy goings -on here! lol. Fido asks me: 'Don't say you've got the meaning of a cryptic poem. You must have gained an extra brain cell. That'll make 4 in total now' - whereas Fido has 40 billion! lol.
Soon there will be 5! Not wrong about shifty and dodgy there, O👍🏻
Oohh, I might understand cryptic poems if it reaches 5! Ahh, I reckon this is about KP then - dodgy and shifty. lol.
And what's more, I wouldn't like that word in a spelling quiz - mall-e-wotsit!
Now it’s off to the mall!
arqios, I’ve felt this kind of institutional sleight of hand…the polite mask over real damage. You captured that erosion with precision as only a poet could! Well done, my friend. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Even the semantics would give us a clue to their wiles.
For sure!
It's all in the handshake and smile.
You just know you're being shafted, and strangely enough, it's always professional bodies.
‘For the greater good’ that’s the alibi.
This is clever and unique, from "clerk’s smile at the counter,
forms stamped in triplicate" all the way to "the phrase signs your name", then the killer last line. Bravo.
Fine meaningful words Rik, we often sign our lives away unknowingly.
Andy
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