If the sky was green would the trees feel blue?
If all hearts were sincere, what we say would be true
….
If nature was kinder, there would be fewer storms
If politicians cared more, they would bring about reforms
….
If hate speech was outlawed, there’d be no demagogues
If humans were nicer, we wouldn’t need dogs
….
If the world was perfect, it would be prejudice free
If that is to happen, it’s down to you and me.
Oak for the timbers, rudder, keel and mast
Granite from Cornwall for the hold’s ballast
Jute for the ropes, when the mate shouts avast
Iron for chains and anchor once the die is cast
….
Canvas for the sails to push us on our way
Ship’s bell to signal watches and the hours of the day
Grog for the crew, just part of the pay
Tackle to be tightened on the aft mainstay
….
Barrels for the water, grog and other stores
Canon to fight pirates and enemies in wars
Telescope to find important distant shores
Gangplanks for the quayside, doubloons for the whores
….
Pressganged and willing, hardy men and true
Captain, mate and bosun, the rest of the crew
Cutlass, sword and dagger, all could run you through
Men scouring the seven seas, but not for the view
Fake news is in the news
If that can be believed
What’s true or false is hard to tell
It’s so easy to be deceived
Exaggeration, if you will
Is one old type of lie
But what of calling others names
In an effort to decry?
A tweet or text, or video clip
Sent, cannot be denied
Inconsistency may also be fake
Specially to mask one’s pride
If opinion is divided,
Consensus not in sight.
Head and heart may disagree,
But both cannot be right
Bring to bear one measure;
The final acid test.
Belief may be convincing,
But evidence is best.
Once more the cracked bell knolled
Beware this fate it told
No destiny sure as yours
Kept to your present course
It made its plaintive sound
To turn his path around
For most its call boomed clear
Use dialogue, not fear
Odd, though, to offer choice
In cold forged metal voice
When none was to be made
His path would not be swayed
His chosen mind-set steady
With finger poised and ready
Just one thing left to do
All sage advice eschew
Some will recount from times before
That any countries wanting war
Sent soldiers to some other place
Engaging armies, face to face
Soon warships harried other fleets
And blasted forts on far flung seas
Then planes dealt death from out the blue
To faceless foes; and innocents too
Now leaders posture with sabres rattling
Distant missiles to do their battling
Madness called war; a button-press away
If inflated egos hold their sway
A cross put on a paper
Seems simple in a way
Amazing, then, that this small act
Empowers each to have a say
The outcome isn’t as I’d hoped for
I’m quite worried by the result
But I can accept the majority view
That’s what it means to be adult
Some people see it differently
Wanting to impose a new regime
Cars, bombs and knives as weapons
Murdering to achieve their dream
Let them not take away our rights
Hold our laws and freedoms dear
They must not win by violence
We will not live in fear
If society is built on values
With some common moral code
Life and liberty are the bedrock
And democracy the road
We knew it was to happen
Somewhere within a crowd
More terror visited uselessly
To try to make us cowed
The carnage and the mayhem
The tragic loss of life
This time a home-made IED
Last time a car and knife
What sort of mind can plan this
How mad must someone be
To be a bomb, a murderer
A lunatic running free
This cause cannot be justified
Though perhaps I waste my breath
There is no place in paradise
Secured through others’ death
A corner building, grey and stark
Casts terror in its shadow
And evil’s chill lingers still
From times, not long ago
Ghastly crimes committed here
Repelling, but so real
With torture’s sound, below ground
To bring people under heel
Come, any who with half a mind
Acknowledge dangers threatening our kind
For to the brink the whole world teeters
Led this time by powerful tweeters
Let’s halt the madness, pause to say
This isn’t a price we’re willing to pay
Don’t threaten, but talk, face to face
Only this can save the human race
