As It Is

As it says on the tin!

The pendulum of time

swings incessant and regular,

often too regular,

hypnotic,

soporific even

as it lulls like

a tinkling stream

or brook, or man-made

water feature.

 

 We grasp the tranquillity,

the relative safety

of those margins

as the world

passes them by

with its tragedies

and disasters,

with its demands

and incessant cries

for our attention

to fake news and

on-line bargains,

as bloggers

and hackers

and trolls

and scammers

patrol the skies,

intent on an easy

pickings.

 

 

We try to keep

a low profile

in the hope

of not being yet

another victim;

we try not to sink

beneath the weight

of the politics of lies

and deception,

the corruption of

corporations

who pollute

and kill remorselessly

simply for return

on investment.

 

But who are we

but the voices

in the wilderness

without sway,

the powerless masses

who are irrelevant

and only to be

courted by half truths

when our votes

need to be counted.

 

Indeed it feels

we are merely

cannon fodder,

living in a bubble

that others create

and control,

kept in check

by campaign promises

and a heavy dose

of reality TV.

 

15/08/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[CD Campbell]

A hundred odd years ago, when someone felt that kind of anger against the powers that be, they could either start a revolution or pick up and travel into the great interior and carve out a life for themselves with their bare hands. It seems nowadays in this so called "digital age" we are all slaves of some sort with nowhere to escape to. I feel your anger and frustration. CD

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes it seems that way CD. Many thanks.

[Chris Shaw]

Great strength in your lines. Where we used to have freedom and democracy the lines are becoming blurred. The electorate are far from controlling the outcome of elections and referendums and you use the Internet and read newspapers with caution. There are scammers everywhere. That's where you took me John. Good morning. Not sure whether I have greeted you yet :)

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Morning Chris. No you have neglected me today. I weep! lol. Many thanks. I often feel incensed by the illusions we so readily accept.

[Chris Shaw]

Well my conscience is now eased knowing I have not neglected you :)) Have a great day.

[Fay Slimm]

You tell well the condition of masses today John - -- used as fodder and kept in submission tis only the poets who verse the sad plight..... thanks for the warning on the tin's label - a compelling read.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Fay. It is sad that we swallow the illusion of democracy as though we are free.