Poetry
Three poems
An Indigenous Voice in Parliament
Is an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, is an
Indigenous Voice in Parliament,
is an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, is an
Indigenous Voice in Parliament,
is an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, is an
Indigenous Voice in Parliament,
is an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, is an
Indigenous Voice in Parliament,
is an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, is an
Indigenous Voice in Parliament,
is an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, is an
Indigenous Voice in Parliament,
is an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, is an
Indigenous Voice in Parliament,
is an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, is an
Indigenous Voice in Parliament,
is an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, is an
Indigenous Voice in Parliament,
is an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, is an
Indigenous Voice in Parliament,
an Indigenous Voice in Parliament
may never find a reason in rhyme
or healing majesty
of a pure songline…
Janus complex
(she/her) (he/him) Which edge of the bed to slip out of; sleep with roses or lie upon nails? Old soldiers acknowledge there is no romance in the never-ending human conflict. Choosing a side, rallying with blood, taking flags and occupying lands simply leads to a choke point; en moot! At the flaw of every human calamity is a warped mirror. Try the reflection with; monogamy, polygamy, polyamory… neutral… and the neutralised…
The hosts on CNN repeatedly smile through their spray-tan guises… this “changing face of war”, they grin about…
There is no changing of portraits on these hellish fronts. A quarter of the world’s populace lives in a battle-zone… have we fallen for the flaws in living infamously? A stranger’s look of indifference tomorrow will be the next outbreak in global hostility! (he/him) (she/her) (white/black) (Amber/Johnny) (cancel/culture) (love/hate). It was much safer when we all adhered to pandemic masks and protective eyewear. Anonymous free-bubble, from our screw-faced self…
Janus complex…
Our leaders’ overcast minds
Ikkyū (1394-1481) was a Japanese monk. The Zen mystic and poet denounced many of his fellow monks and ridiculed orthodox Zen practices.
Haiku 1
Contagious lies
Nasty bugs going around,
Politicians…
Haiku 2
Looking for answers?
Forget civilisation!
Loose lips, sinking ships…
Haiku 3
Did we yearn for it?
Ultimate destruction!
The atrophy now…
Epitaphs in Sedoka
Katauta 1
Put a price on peace,
In Heaven Ikkyū laughs!
What do they not understand?
Katauta 2 (Response)
In vain war is launched
TOTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD!
Our leaders’ overcast minds…
This article was first published in the print edition of The Saturday Paper on March 4, 2023 as "Three poems".
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