Sunday, May 01, 2016

866 - A Crying Shame


Sunday Whirl (Wordle #249) presents a list of words
that we must incorporate in a writing piece.  

The words this week are:

grace, join, yearning, silken, any, fire,
eggs, moment, skin, cell, light, boundless


A Crying Shame

First they came for the Socialists, 
and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, 
and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, 
and I did not speak out— 
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—
and there was no one left to speak for me.

- Martin Niemöller

Verse Two,
Lines five and six,
Of our National Anthem reads:

“For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share”

And come they do,
Yearning a new and safer life,
Any life really,
After we, 
And our mighty military,
Have rained fire,
Mayhem,
Death and misery,
Upon them in their homes.
Delivering moments of terror
And lifetimes of trauma
Through the machinery of greed,
Thinly disguised
Beneath a skin of righteousness.

But our silken leader
Tells us not to be “misty eyed’;
Code for “toughen up”,
Code for “they are not really people”
Graceless and lightweight,
He beats on an empty chest.

How long, I wonder,
Before those who point 
At our national disgrace
Are politely but firmly 
Invited to join the others
In a distant island cell?
As eggs precede chickens 
And chickens precede eggs,
It is the next logical step.
.
---
© J Cosmo Newbery 2016
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20 comments:

  1. True. And how I wish it wasn't.

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  2. I think Mr Turnbull is trapped in a role dictated by his ambition to be PM. It's Mr Dutton that worries me - I have seen Daleks with greater compassion.

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  3. AnonymousMay 01, 2016

    The whole world needs more compassion and less hate.

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  4. Those desperately seeking a new life are criminalised because they represent a crippled side of humanity. That is our shame, our government's shame.

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  5. Amen to that! And this is amazing:
    "Graceless and lightweight,
    He beats on an empty chest."

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  6. Yes, that 'misty-eyed' comment was horrifying. But many of us are aware, and yelling as loudly as we can. However, those in power are not yet listening.

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  7. It's just one needless terrifying circle, JC, which is spiraling out of control

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  8. There is so much that rings true in this... there is so much debt unpaid in this world.

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  9. The history of world expansion is not pretty from any perspective but the movement of people is unstoppable, as we see in Europe at present. We of the present must make the best of our pasts and work for a better future.

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  10. A clever use of quote and verse J Cosmo - i think it speaks for itself..

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  11. Excellent usage of quote. Brilliant write.

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  12. Argh! Selfish stupidity, greed. The world feels tumultuous right now. Maybe it's always been that way. Code for... I loved that part. Spot on!

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  13. Excellent political reflection! We just do not learn from the past.

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  14. Oh these mistakes we make and wars we seek against humanity....but really they are as your elegant and poignant poem says...

    'Through the machinery of greed,
    Thinly disguised
    Beneath a skin of righteousness.'

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  15. It is a wonder we are not all out in the streets birthing a global revolution. The status quo is so unwell. I really resonated with this poem, Cosmo. One of your best.

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  16. AnonymousMay 02, 2016

    I am glad there are those, like yourself, who speak out about what our world is becoming, and so very saddened that so few listen,

    Elizabeth

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  17. I'm horrified by the state of the world, and horrified that the media gives these twits more air time than they deserve.

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  18. It is just madness when everyone seems unaffected when in reality everyone are hoodwinked. Those who squeeze the trigger are the ones expected to pursue for peace. A pity! Very well said Cosmo!

    Hank

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