The Strange Island

I can see across the sea,

On clear days across the waves,

An island of folk,

As fierce to friend and foe,

Who go about life bitter,

Pulling the meek from their beds,

Cheering themselves on with parades,

Of dragging screams away.

There are the neighbours,

Coming for help but leaving harmed,

Damned and spat upon,

Robbed and bound and stranded,

Kicked out onto boats,

New to them despite the news.

There are the sick,

Of mind, body, but never soul,

Dressed up in matching uniforms,

Unable to live alone,

Flogged to work without benefits,

For God, Queen, and Cunts,

And told they are of Greatness,

So great it can’t help anyone.

Then they line up the hopeful,

The young, the smart, the bold,

And starve them of purpose,

Outside stocks and sales,

Told to be reasonable,

In this maddening way of life,

Told to be grateful,

For the nothing so generously paid.

If I squint a little,

Mid-way across the sea,

I see a slick of stain coming our way,

To mark our shores as badly.

#HI