Behind the veil
of political maelstrom
lies a modicum of humanity
Or, is it humanity is belied
behind a maelstrom of lies,
politics always falling short?
Behind the veil
of political maelstrom
lies a modicum of humanity
Or, is it humanity is belied
behind a maelstrom of lies,
politics always falling short?
I dream of a woman
Mother-centred
grey-haired essence
oozing strength –
a vessel, rain focused
decoding political lies.
Leaders are locked
targeting anxiety
selective stances
patriarchal bedmates
ending unsafe
Rioters blow up
martyr consciousness
metamorphosis in throngs
chemicals insignificant
when innocence ignored
temples violated.
What is next?
A future gatekeeper
spouting personal freedom
recalling pleas, charming
ghosts of the past?
We need
discernment,
a woman
Mother-centred
grey-hair wise
leading the way.
(I dreamt of a goddess figure, and attempted to capture her in the pencil drawing featured. Working on that dream, many things have emerged. The poem above is just on example.)
Cynical of authority –
a dubious task force –
Democracy’s fairytale
under siege
Stalking wealth
expending the vulnerable
This class of clowns
is COVID revealed.
(Image mine.)
Censor tendencies
to exaggerate –
tremendous efforts
better illustrated
than bragged about
If it’s royal accolades
you seek, be precise –
a message delivered
in plain packaging
is not overshadowed
by unnecessary glitter.
(Tuesdays I borrow from my Twitter account @Vjknutson. Image from personal collection.)
The man is rhino
mere stench of him
inspires fear
clears the room
We cower, quietly
captivated little mice
terrified he’ll call us out
bullied into submission
But this status quo
bears no permanence
time and circumstances
will topple the power
And once writhing
on his backside, who
will venture to help
who will leave him be?
(Eugi’s Causerie Weekly Prompt is captivating. I’ve altered the word to fit my purpose. Image from personal collection.)
Project importance on institutions
confused about what is legitimate
You see, I am worn out,
stunned by reality.
Officials promote chaos
critical thinking a stretch
Anyway, I’m anxious,
almost off the rails.
How do I pull back the strings
that control these emotions
disconnect from the idiocy
allow clarity to guide choices?
(Image from personal collection.)
Following political tides –
mesmerized by neglect
of actual issues – playing
to an audience of moaners
(standard consumerist
plights) – glossing over
exploitation of women,
verbal slaughter of race,
religion and social values.
Wondering about media –
who commandeer bias,
swallowing atrocities and
spewing contrived truths,
absent sound voice, or will,
jeopardizing the security
of so many trampled in
the race for what? Surely
not responsibility – what
lapse of conscience has
allowed hateful rhetoric
to bloody progress, no
consequences? Â Who will
bear the burden when in
the absence of morality
or respect for humanity,
the margins will increase?
The world quakes at the
failure to acknowledge
this broken path, see only
a devaluation of assets,
perceive a race that did
no more than increase
the monarchy of a king,
grant power to absolve
sins – a sleight-of-hand
trick – nothing to do with
the common habitants –
have so many questions
about how they’ll proceed.
(First penned in November of 2016, I am resubmitting this piece for Reena’s Exploration challenge#120. Image from personal collection.)
The world, I’d say,
is struggling to endure –
upheaval the new norm
old protocols redundant –
insane the political thrum.
Surely hope has remained,
a constant flickering might.
Public displays seldom tell-all,
Vanity figures performance called for –
a ruse to make the hordes pander.
Clearly fault lies with us, audience
fuelling rhetoric, lapping up the hate.
Give politicians their due, they deliver
souped-up enemies to satisfy our tastes.
(For Reena’s Exploration challenge, where the prompt is the line: Public figures make us hate their enemies.)
Image from personal collection.
Evil dons a political mask,
puppetry performed
with carefully construed phrases,
public favour swayed…
and as a final ruse
deploys duplicitous vestments
declaring divinity onboard.
(For Willow Poetry’s What Do You See? challenge: image as prompt.)