IF

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.

Privateers

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

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

 

Forming Opinions

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.

 

The Bell at the End of the World

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

A Brief History Of War

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

The UK General Election

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

A Fundamental Truth

 

dark sky

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

 

 

 

 

Budapest’s House of Terror

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