Hush Now

Hush now

And do not see

Houseless people picking the ends of cigarettes from the floor

To make a desperate distraction from the bitter teeth of the wind

Sweeping through torn coats and thin socks

Chasing warmth through needle dreams

As dependency and desperation ties the knot

And the vicious spiral turns anew.

***

Hush now

And do not hear

The lives of many reduced to numbers

Like masks discarded in the street

As the death toll rises

Proclaimations fall from the mouths of blank eyed newsreaders

Immune to the gospel of horror they repeat

Whilst our ministers wear masks around their chins

Cloth grins

As they extort

BUILD BACK BETTER

Foundations built on the bones of our disabled and elderly

One last job they can do

No dignity in death.

***

Hush now

And do not speak

Of those who were silent and fell

From bridges

As their only escape

From the screaming tumult of depression and anxiety.

Who's cries for help were swallowed by a wave of denial

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

We were told

BE KIND

As the silent tally of the depressed dead grew larger.

***

Hush now

And do not taste

The bitter pills fed to you each day

In print and on your screen

As silver- plated platitudes fall from twisted tongues

And honeyed lips as they deny

Another Lie

And laugh at those who thought they would care

And hold their best interests at heart

Like Man's Best Friend

Instead treated like a mangy cur

Given only enough kindness to return again

For one more kick after the vote.

Hush now

and do not touch

The lives of those around you without thought

And stand apart from those who do not

SEE

HEAR

SPEAK

TASTE

All the wonders of who we are and all we could be

If we questioned what we are told

And instead spent more time listening to

Each other.