O’ Malibu, O’ Malibu, I remember years before
The laws and local politics
Came knocking at our door.
When life was peaceful and sublime,
And politicians weren’t around,
To display their ego – and justify –
Ideas far from sound
And now we have the Wetlands thing,
And Restrictions everywhere.
Home Business License and new Tax
And Controls, few sane would dare.
The Goby Habitat is due –
And dire Restrictions where to build.
If the slope is fifteen plus degrees,
You can’t afford the fill.
Inspectors hide on quiet days
Along our private streets;
Listening for the slightest sounds
From illegal home-alteration freaks.
Neighbors now are at great odds
On who should build on hills.
And even the colors that you paint
Are Controlled for window sills.
There are now environmental reviews
And Wetland Delineation –
Land Use subcommittees
And Task Force denigrations.
O’ how I long for years gone by
Before the politicians came;
And all the controls, and God what knows.
O’ please don’t use my name!
Phineas P. Fogbottom