Listening To Mikhail

When Mikhail says we’re making ready

That flags upon the charts are being laid

And our leaders posture, rhetoric unsteady

Should we listen to what Gorbachev has said

 

Should we listen to experienced survivors

To the experts who seek evidence and proof

To academics, historians and scientists

Who study past and future for the truth

 

Should we listen when the charities are groaning

Under siege to manage shelter, food

While governments can always conjure money

To weaponise our world for some vague good

 

When the friend within is demeaned and benighted

And tolerance is seen as enemy

When hatred escalates and is encouraged

Should we listen to what others maybe see

 

Should we listen to ourselves when twinges niggle

And reason urges calm and look again

Or should we just do nothing and make ready

To pursue a path that leads to greater pain

 

When the meanwhiles of the nations are unfolding

When the jigsaw picture’s starting to make sense

Should we listen, listen closely and decide to

Build no more walls and get down off our fence

 

When ex-leader of the ‘enemy’ proclaims it

Is it bluff and stuff to shrug off and ignore

Should we dismiss his words as fake and propaganda

Or should we listen like we never have before

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Let’s Chew Gum

Let’s fling fuel on the fire

Stand right back, watch it burn,

Let’s all hope that missiles and bullets

Know which way to turn.

Let’s all pray that mass destruction

Stays far away from here,

Let’s all be brave from a distance,

Fan those flames, show no fear.

Let’s cover their cries with a pop song,

Drown their tears with a gin,

Let’s do some Christmas shopping,

Let’s all concentrate on him.

Let’s buy Jesus an x-box,

Call of Duty would suit him well,

Let’s make sure to be good Christians

Or we might go straight to hell.

Let’s all get our priorities straight,

Buy shares in industry,

Armaments and camouflage,

Now turn on our TV.

Let’s all watch some chewing gum,

Drain our moral code,

Let’s all believe that what we do

Comes gospelled via God.

Let’s all do what Albert said,

Repeat, repeat, don’t learn,

Let’s fling fuel till we raze the lot,

Insanity, asylum.

La,la,la, some chewing gum,

Play station and a game,

Let’s all grab a life controller,

Virtual, reality, all the same.

 

The Illusion

Below are the words I wrote to one of Johnny’s amazing tunes. It’s called, ‘The Illusion’.

It made me think of the circus (which I hate). And politics. And we, the people. This world of ours.

I hope you enjoy the results of this particular collaboration.

Some people may be offended by some of the images. What can I say? I’m offended by them too.

Here is the circus, here is the street,

Ringmaster has found the beat,

Try to keep up with his song,

Try to march in time along.

 

This is the game we all play,

Carnival is now the way,

Jugglers, clowns perform, we pay,

Sideshow stalls have won the day.

 

See, look, the Big Top, there go the lions,

Whipped to submit, they stride in time,

Prancing ponies do their thing,

All well-trained for circus ring.

 

Fire-eaters and trapeze acts,

Contortionists, acrobats,

Bearded lady, strongman too,

A man who’ll throw sharp knives at you.

Elephants and dancing bears,

Chained and trained with treats and chairs,

Barking seals we’ll photograph,

Voyeuristic, look and laugh.

 

This is the game we all play,

Carnival is now the way,

Jugglers, clowns perform, we pay,

Sideshow stalls have won the day.

 

Freaks, a frenzy, humankind,

All been hired, so we don’t mind,

Reassured by loud applause,

Menagerie all minus claws.

 

Unicycle, wheel on fire,

No safety net below the wire,

Seats aplenty, catch the thrills,

Captive held, donated will.

 

This is the game we all play,

Carnival is now the way,

Jugglers, clowns perform, we pay,

Sideshow stalls have won the day.

 

Crocodiles that cry and smile,

Hoops and loops, a queued turnstile,

Welcome mat once bona fide

Shit and sawdust strewn inside

 

Red coattails and top hat guy,

Prices tickets, would he lie,

Roll on up for daring acts,

Roles by rote, learned down pat.

 

Calliope, glockenspiel,

Beating drums, can this be real,

Mesmerised by costumes grand,

Performances all out of hand.

 

Extravaganza, three-ring whip,

Drugged as mugs, all on this trip,

Flashing lights and strobes that blind,

Custard pies but we don’t mind.

 

This is the game we all play,

Carnival is now the way,

Jugglers, clowns perform, we pay,

Sideshow stalls have won the day.

 

Disassembled, faded grass,

Circus moved, out on our arse,

Try to keep up with his song,

Ringmaster can do no wrong.

 

This is the game we all play,

Carnival is now the way,

Jugglers, clowns perform, we pay,

Sideshow stalls have won the day.

traps and trains

…g…o…t…t…a…

 keep it steamin’ on all fronts

– chugga, chugga, chugga –

engine shunts

— coasting on the flat —

/and down the slopes \

\struggling up the mountains/

how it copes

incredulous to see

although horrific

balletic in display

!!!!! so goddamned specific !!!!!

enemies around

trains on the track

no diversions here

‘we’ve got your back’

– choo-choo, choo-choo, choo-choo –

what a pain

gotta win our cause

what? fuck! again?

got…ta…got…ta…got…ta

keep right on

knowing, even while

those days are gone

knackered at the yard

rusted, forlorn

pistons straining

empire days long gone

where’s the change

 in terminology

…locomotive, train…

‘psychology’

wanton in excess

(on all the sides)

aggression wins

oh yeah? hist’ry decides

no worries, folks

Casey’s on the whistle

humming tune, new

 apostolic epistle

***shunty***shunty*** shunty ***

gasp (O) and groan 😦

passengers resigned

shrug shoulders, moan….bugger, shit, feck, fuck!

destination’s further

 down the line

worry not, guys

future’s lookin’ fine 🙂

just around next bend 🙂 🙂

a few more miles 🙂 🙂 🙂

slightly further on 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 (sweat hope!)

we’ll all have smiles 😉

at reaching place

we took the journey to

I’m getting off this train

don’t know ‘bout you.

lookin’ for the trap

by horses led

simplistic conveyance

or just lay abed.

Helen

For beauty and love

Heroic valour tested

Promises fulfilled.

Recognised Today

The Blackhouse, courtesy of Pete

Another life then,

Challenged by the gods

And foe.

Enemy

Within and

Without;

Nature’s cruelty,

Natural instinct.

Fighting to survive

With arms

And hands that

Kept the home fires

Kindled.

Tarred within,

Blackened without,

Hearts of innocent

Darkness.

Allegiance to survival,

Kin

And secondary causes.

Another life then,

Recognised today.

Here and There

It’s midnight here

And worlds apart we sleep.

I’m smiling here,

While other people weep.

I’m wishing here

For better days ahead.

Still smiling here

As thoughts roll through my head.

I’m playing here

With visuals in my mind.

Contemplating here,

A video on rewind.

I’m resisting here

The sounds around I hear.

No silence here.

 

You’re wondering there

Why no one seems to care.

Shuddering there

At danger in your air.

You’re crying there.

I hear you far away.

You’re beseeching there.

I’m wishing as I pray

That, over there,

Change is on its way.

Video reading. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=1430688390489666&set=vb.100006455577938&type=2&theater

Lov’e’s Battleground

Enlisted and found wanting,

Wandering and haunting

On love’s battleground

They are found.

Wounded and bitten,

Rejects, once smitten

Who persisted,

Now hurt and twisted.

Listed

As resisted.

How daunting.

Man’s Inhumanity to Man

Pitiful, pulverised,

Pathetic meat.

Flesh torn apart

For a feast.

Predator, prey

A reality,

For Man as well

As for beast.