Sometimes there are too many thoughts, feelings and the world is too much. This year and the one fore it often feel so, so instead of my usual non-fiction blog, here’s my second long form poem since 2021. (A big lockdown year for Australia, and another dystopian, bizarre time to be alive.) Whereas now is a time where saying, “I am not political” is synonymous with saying, “I give zero fucks about other people’s rights and needs.” Yeah, there be some swearing here 😉
We live in overload.
Through many events,
Stirring thoughts and feelings,
With no place to go.
No time to process.
No time to grieve.
No time to come together,
Throughout ongoing need.
Cacophony of voices,
Human and ai.
Shouts in the night,
Propaganda and lies.
Nations under strain.
‘Leaders’ in it for self gain.
Systemic failures remain.
Alongside environmental drain.
We’re made to think,
We’ve only two choices.
Fascism, or fascism lite,
When both fuck what’s right.
Now more than ever,
We need to be sure,
Exactly what it is,
We’re fighting for.
Is housing a right,
To be upheld for all?
Are living expenses,
Something all should afford?
Should every person
Be equal before the law?
Black, white or brown?
Billionaires and the poor?
How do we apply the law?
Forgiving white petty crime?
Charging BIPOC petty misdemeanors,
Every single time?
Do we prosecute,
Only blue collar crime?
Do we sentence sex offenders,
Like their victims,
Aren’t worth a dime?
Can he get off?
Because he’s a ‘good bloke’
No matter his foul crimes?
Who gets autonomy?
Over themself?
Their health?
Their body
Their wealth?
Their land and life?
Which gender may have a wife?
Who gets funding?
Who begs for scraps?
Who cares for the future?
Who’s engineering our collapse?
Who made the system?
Who does it serve?
Who does it exploit?
Who does it hurt?
Do we truly believe,
In the comfort of all?
Or is it each for themself,
Fuck others when they fall!
Even if the system,
Is the very thing that tripped them?
Because of skin colour or gender?
Sexuality or poverty?
Because they are disabled?
So denied a seat at the table?
Or should there be,
No policy passed about me,
Without me?
Who is it government,
Should represent?
Fossil industry?
Or billionaires?
Tax evaders?
Racist cares?
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs proposed,
If you don’t have basics;
You cannot grow.
Without food, water and shelter,
Without health, safety and security,
Existence is stress,
Exhaustion and trouble.
Life knows no peace,
Only endless struggle.
Forget persona,
Forget charm.
Show me a leader,
Who aims to do no harm.
I don’t care what you say.
Don’t care how you sound.
I care that both your feet,
Are firmly on the ground.
That you see the fires,
The violence of storms.
That you oppose hatred,
In ALL its forms.
That you do what you can,
To ensure all in your land,
Are fed and watered,
Housed and healthy.
That you secure,
Energy clean.
That you preserve,
This planet once green.
That you ensure,
Access to education,
Healthcare and more.
We need you to know,
That we’ll not accept,
You fucking up,
Right and left.
So get it together,
Gather your friends.
Build community,
Make amends,
With any,
For whom there’s hope,
That together we cope.
Riding out this maelstrom,
In a reinforced boat.
Remember our humanity,
What it means to care,
To meets others needs,
To be truly there.
In an age of intrusion,
Let us shatter illusions.
Build safe harbour
Gather in unison
For it is our charge
To prove how capable we are.
To unite to preserve
Our home among the stars.
