Slave Trade

A Poem by Lewis Kenny

I wrote this when I was just feeling very angry and needed to vent it somewhere. Its the first thing I ever wrote.

Slave Trade

by Lewis Kenny

How could this have happened to us? How could this not have been seen?

That what is known as the 'American Dream', is just the blatant propaganda of a corporate machine,

you see, who controls the media, has control of the mind.

Didn't anyone tell you that standing too close to tele can make you blind?

Open your mind and see life's grand design.

Instead we're breeding hate, that's fumes from the heads of state,

and with your heads as bait they spread a culture of fear from their private estates.

I'm just being out-straight.

I'll take you back in time, before the rhythm and rhyme,

before the slithering slime, created the dollar and dime.

Back to the the days of old, the days of bold, when life was worth more than oil silver or gold,

we had the bravery to raise the stakes, not just sit down and fold.

This isn't folklore, Collins and De Valera weren't the only ones who waged war

in the name of the beautiful Saoirse.

But Saoirse is dead and gone now

she's with O'Leary in the grave.

She had a path to pave, a craft to crave

but when asked to behave crashed like a wave

to which no one would save.

And while we laughed away and went astray

we slowly reverted back to the days of slaves.

But these are not the slaves you know,

no see these slaves sit at home waiting for their government to throw them a bone,

so they phone, unknown and leave a message after the tone

but get no reply from up high

because the corrupt only look after they're own.

This isn't a joke, understand that I'm trying to revoke the prods and pokes

that they've done to your mind with their mirrors and smoke, its time you awoke.

Recognise that this is real life and realise that your real eyes can see past they're real lies.

See you have a voice

so choose to use it and rejoice in that choice

because to lose it is the price you pay

to join the slave trade of which you'll aimlessly cruise with,

but don't let this confuse you, this is the system they use to abuse you

and you can escape if you choose to but the choice is yours, don't refuse it.

© 2013 Lewis Kenny

Author's Note

Sorry about the poor grammar. 'Saoirse' is Irish for freedom and is also a common girls name in Ireland

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Featured Review

Lucy Hatfield

I was very surprised to read in the description that this was the first thing you have ever written. I can relate very well to this, but then again you wrote about something that a lot of people can relate to in the current political climate. I have a special place in my heart for people who write activist poetry and prose. Great job!

This poem utilizes rhyme and alliteration very well, as well as assonance, consonance, etc. I like the double meaning of "Saoirse." My only criticism would be to avoid repetition that isn't necessary. The word "mind" in the first stanza was used twice and I think you could probably play with those a little bit more. Can't wait to read more from you!