What should be a simple counting of heads
Is here a pratfall buried with the bones
Dumped near the fenced-off railway sheds.
For freedom’s optimistic tidings
Are out of fashion in these parts,
Their wagons mothballed in the sidings.
In place of a future based on trust,
The polished tracks will soon become
A instrument of power’s grasping lust.
This will not be the first time or the last
That memory, with sorrow, fades to sleep
And human failings cower in the past.
I'm not an expert on Auden, by any means, Steve, but this reminds me of his work, the power and sweep of it. It was the words "the bones /Dumped near the fenced-off railway sheds" that made me think of him. Remarkable poem.
I lve the rythm of this piece
My favourite lines - -
"For freedom's optimistic tidings
Are out of fashion in these parts,
Their wagons mothballed in the sidings"
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Stephen Gospage
Thu 29th Sep 2022 17:16
It's very kind of you to say so, Greg. I wanted to write something rhythmic to contrast with the crass, rifle-butt nature of this exercise. Thanks, Flyntland, I am so glad you enjoyed this. It is incredible that 15% of Ukraine's territory will be snatched away tomorrow (at least according to some people).
And thanks to Nigel, Frederick, John C and John B and Reggie's Ghost for liking this.