Gods have clay feet
said my mom many
years ago in response to my
distress from learning
that Chairman Mao drank alcohol

Icon
from the Greek
meaning to resemble
referring to an image
believed to be sacred
in itself

Icon
Symbol
Model
Embodiment
Personification
Exemplar
Idol even

(in short supply
we are what with
there being too many
galacticos and the like
those of the I-me-mine
me-first-at-the-trough type)

The I con
sweet-talker
swindler
cheat
fraudster

limp handshake
smile quite fake
ever scheming like
a politician at the polls

How long does it take?
What does it take?

to be an icon
to be an I con
Gods have clay feet
Do we?