What do they want, what have they got, what do they need?
Who has the power?
What is their intent?
Who do they represent?
Who will they kill?
Who will they let be killed?
Who will they let kill?
Would they do it?
Will they respect their debt?
Who are they?
Are they us,if so why?
If not, why do we agree?
Who has the power?
What is the intent?
In Gaza?
The gas chamber?
In Afghanistan?
In Iraq?
At Shannon airport?
The North of Ireland?
In County Mayo?
The Rossport five?
The Birmingham Six?
Sunday, Bloody Sunday?
Omagh, Warrington?
Hiroshima?
Vietnam?
NewOrleans?
General Belgrano?
Miner's strike?
History, repeating itself?
Disgracing itself?
Negative equity?
Pawn tickets, lottery tickets?
Poetry anthologies?
The drink and the drunk?
In the Vatican?
The Texas death row?
The stoned to death adultress?
In the strip joint?
The street corner?
The passed around?
The dark alley?
The homeless hand?
The Joyridden car?
The politicians speech?
In free speech?
The Fairtraders trade?
The Tesco profit margin?
In the house where you live?
In the people you meet?
In the poem you write?
The TV you watch?
The papers you read?
The gossip they serve?
The words you use?
Nigger, Paki, Chav, Scanger, knacker?
In your head?
In your heart?
Hypocrite me, I've the arrogance to say,
to change the world,
I'll try to start with me.
21 comments:
But it's so much easier to expect OTHER people to change!
Sometimes I'm so appalled at the things that show up in my head. At least I have to good sense to not SAY them - but that's how indoctrinated we are & how sneaky racism (or classism, or "us-ism") is.
A powrful hard hitting warts n all poem to reflect on TFE. Each journey starts with one step, so it is with change.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all 'started with me'? Your poem is so pertinent TFE - I sometimes despair of mankind when I read the news and wonder if we have learned anything from past events.
Thought provocation is a definite strength of yours Eej, you may be startin with you, but you're sharing it too.
Not hippocritical at all
You are right Bugo!
And you are right Gwei Muio!
And you are right Heathero!
Hippo-critical? Oh I likes that, Niamho, that is exactly what I am ,a carping hippo of false virtue!
my theory is... we can't change the world... BUT we can influence the tiny space we inhabit.. by just being nice, teaching our kids to just be nice.. just. be. nice... (and have a healthy dose of questioning mind too..)
and.. everyone is a hypocrite! unless you are living without clothing in a field, purely off of your wits, hunting your own food and taking nothing more than you need to survive... which of course, none of us are.
great rowdy poem :-)
Dear Total: Totally awesomemight sandwich! You hit the nail on the head! Right On! Love your details and this; "In the house where you live?
In the people you meet?
In the poem you write?
The TV you watch?
The papers you read?
The gossip they serve?
The words you use?"
Is it ok to say "Paki, etc?" would someone take offence? I heard that savant guy on dope who was from the States, a regular guy (sort of) and he went there to kill Bin Laden personally. The Afghan police caught him with all kinds of contraband devices like I think plastic explosives, night vision goggles, etc etc. You got to read this an do a poem on him! It would be soooo funny! His name is Gary Falkner; Here I'll get the story for you..hold on! http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1998036,00.html Anyway, this guy who got along great with the locals called his friends "Paki's" and that was ok with them. I guess is someone called me "MicK" I'd take offence...no not really! Since they are pointing out not just me but a whole bunch that may look or act like me. Unless it is offensive to a particular person then I would not say that nickname which may be offensive. If there are truly and really disguisting by public standards and discriminating names like barfo or psychopoophead, well then, maybe..I'd think not! Because it is a direct attack on a person which is more offensive, maybe? Nonetheless, it may not be ok to say these oft used terms in common vernacular and colloquial speech today. Is it "ok" to say these slang words; would the person be thought of as "racist" or what have you? If so...I dont think I'd say the word..however, I am not as edgy and I guess..well I dont want to hurt feelings which probably does not make me an artist. Right?
Dear Total: Totally awesomemight sandwich! You hit the nail on the head! Right On! Love your details and this; "In the house where you live?
In the people you meet?
In the poem you write?
The TV you watch?
The papers you read?
The gossip they serve?
The words you use?"
Is it ok to say "Paki, etc?" would someone take offence? I heard that savant guy on dope who was from the States, a regular guy (sort of) and he went there to kill Bin Laden personally. The Afghan police caught him with all kinds of contraband devices like I think plastic explosives, night vision goggles, etc etc. You got to read this an do a poem on him! It would be soooo funny! His name is Gary Falkner; Here I'll get the story for you..hold on! http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1998036,00.html Anyway, this guy who got along great with the locals called his friends "Paki's" and that was ok with them. I guess is someone called me "MicK" I'd take offence...no not really! Since they are pointing out not just me but a whole bunch that may look or act like me. Unless it is offensive to a particular person then I would not say that nickname which may be offensive. If there are truly and really disguisting by public standards and discriminating names like barfo or psychopoophead, well then, maybe..I'd think not! Because it is a direct attack on a person which is more offensive, maybe? Nonetheless, it may not be ok to say these oft used terms in common vernacular and colloquial speech today. Is it "ok" to say these slang words; would the person be thought of as "racist" or what have you? If so...I dont think I'd say the word..however, I am not as edgy and I guess..well I dont want to hurt feelings which probably does not make me an artist. Right?
Impressive, both in sentiment and concept. I really liked this one, shall come back to analyse it. One query: why is it arrogance to begin with oneself? would have thought that the height of common sense and humility.
Very well said Eej - there is a feeling of hopelessness when one thinks of all the injustice, all the killing - I am sure that the majority of people want to live in peace. Why then is everything anti-peace and love? Do we put the wrong people in power or is there some mysterious plan afoot regardless.
It is easy at my age to settle down in the country and take no part, let it all go over my head. Yet today there is the heartening news that the lady in Iran is not going to be stoned after all - and that has been brought about by pressure from individuals, so perhaps there is hope forus all.
this made me all panicky! Think it was the pace. Good work though.
Verification Word: slact.
Interesting that your list does not include any form of music. Something to consider...harmony.
Not a hypocrite. More like Hippocratic. First, do no harm.
I loved your rhythm as well as your words.
Good power. Good work, a pleasure to read and words to think about.
This is a brilliant brilliant poem. I loved it and will honor its intent.
NO MATE IT'S IN T NET !
(I like Jeanne's coment)
HAPPY CHRISTMAS by the way!
NO MATE ITS IN T NET!
(I like Jeanne's coment)
Honest poem. The last stanza smacks it down. Change, starting with self, now that is the rub.
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