In The Scheme Of Things

gutless form of

grey flannel

and bowler hat

tapping briefcase

with finger

pencil callused

autocratic directions

of how the

shapeless should fit

tailors chalk on cloth

decisive lines

to trim or sew

mouths stitched so

neatly shut

limbs severed so that

the fall of material

should be so suitable

old money new money

contra entries

that become the washerwomans

laundry

in colonial towns

with brighter sun

and sweated brows

grey flannel choke

and soft eton tones

cruciform stretched

with benefits denied

g&t cold pink lemonade

taking canapes on landscaped lawn

take a bow doff your cap

grateful for what you

don’t receive

inbred subservience

of the golden age

long shadows

keeping us in the dark

mouth torn open

begins to shout

blood on lips

blood on tongue

strike a match

to cauterize

and light the beacon torch

flannel shadows

cannot keep us hidden

or denied

we have voices

as we are many

and you are few

 

copyyright Chris Lawrence

 

 

Kay Sutcliffe – Poem By A Miners Wife

What began in 79

when your home is not
a protective shelter to dignity and heart,
where government scythes away
public voices in favour of a few,
nervous rattle of doors
closing on opportunities
for those we should cherish,
disabled now disenfranchised
workless sanctioned and berated
for just existing,
statistics and targets
media fodder,
minimum wage hunter gatherers
chasing food bank trails
as rent arrears accumulate,
things are getting brighter
economy booming,
so some say
a cautious tale of cynicism
is needed to chew on this pill
of crushed realisations,
we have awoken
but not awake

written in response to the Conservatives taking victory in the elections and Cameron claiming power again

Jess Green – Five More Years

Margaret Thatcher

In death she divides us again , but more importantly the fissures that have chronically remained since have reopened her policies under scrutiny, i saw the fall of Unions the propelling into a war that was only for populism, industry sold and collapsed Mines, Docks every sector experienced the force of her nature unbending unwilling , destroying the mines destroyed community and society fragmented drifters pushed into other towns having to learn new skills to survive for less pay while on the other hand the rich never had it so good bonuses and million pound paychecks, business leaders enjoying the might of unions collapse so they could apply work conditions without challenge, i would not celebrate anyone’s death but her legacy is a poor one that shows so truly now, foreign policy Pinochet and Khmer Rouge she made allies and friends of leaders would not tolerate today but unopposed or weakly so she ploughed on.

That is all i am going to say as i needed to say it i saw poverty the collapse of a lot of industry at her hands but what is done should not be perpetuated the Government today should listen us the 99% we work and toil to earn minimum wage so that million £ bonuses can be paid, time to change think hard about the countries future and make a wise choice your life depends on it