Artist

Alexander Averin

Wednesday 7 April 2010

Democracy



Someone said there could be a Hung Parliament.
Someone else said ‘Who shall we string up first?’
The warmonger Blair or the liars,
the money-grabbers or the thieves,
the gamblers or the swindlers,
the bleeders or the cheats?

The con-men in the background? Men in black?
Spin-artists, brain-washers and blackmailers?
Or the handful of token females who crept around or simpered
with those feeble and spineless Yes-Men in their wake,
eyes only on a place in some future Cabinet?

To whom shall we grant a pardon?
Who shall we parade and proudly honour
for their brave forthrightness and their honesty?
(Answers on a postcard please, but don’t all rush).

Or shall I see you at the polling station,
an eager pencil in your hand,
itching just to make your little mark
to the Left or to the Right
or even in some real or just-imagined,
one-time-believed-in-and-hoped-for Middle Way?

As if there was a choice.

As if you had a voice.

Democracy?

They’re having a laugh aren’t they?



Cait O’Connor

6 comments:

Inthemud said...

That is so brilliant, sums it all up perfectly!

The bike shed said...

A very big laugh.

But then democracy was described as the 'least worst' of all the systems; I think that still holds true.

Pondside said...

When I look around and see some of the alternatives...........

CAMILLA said...

Wonderful Cait, that says it all.!

Tattieweasle said...

I think I'd feel happier if there was some sort of PR so I know my vote would count but then I would have no say as to whom it would count for!!! Loved the post!

Kate said...

Thanks Cait...brilliant insight.