Donations are essential to keep Write Out Loud going    

Writers

entry picture

They’re coming for the writers now;

They’ll take out poets one by one.

These tellers of the awkward truths,

Who show them up for what they are,

Appear to constitute fair game

For slingshots scrounged from death’s bazaar.

 

(The Ukrainian writer and poet Victoria Amelina was killed in the missile strike on the pizza restaurant in Kramatorsk).

Ukraine

◄ Left Field

Trickle ►

Comments

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Wed 5th Jul 2023 16:10

And my thanks to Nigel, Johns C&B, Hugh, Philippa, Holden, Clare, K Lynn and Manish for liking this one.

Profile image

Stephen Gospage

Tue 4th Jul 2023 17:46

Thank you so much, Graham. Your comment means a lot to me.

Uilleam - Thanks, I take your point, and we must always be vigilant. But, at the same time, everything is relative.

MC - In this case, the truth landed on a restaurant and killed 13 people, injuring many more. It is also true that among the victims was a noted writer and poet. For the rest, I don't really have any comment.

Profile image

M.C. Newberry

Tue 4th Jul 2023 14:23

Ah...truth. That most elusive and ephemeral visitor to our
minds. Do you not wonder why politicians rarely mention the
word. It is because it can mean different things to different
people in varying circumstances. Propaganda is often the
exaggeration, even the distortion, of "truth". Its value (power)
lies (no pun intended) in its close affinity with "truth" in many minds. Look in the mirror. Do you see what others see? Or do
you see what YOU see? Which is true? Or are both true in
their own way?

Profile image

Graham Sherwood

Tue 4th Jul 2023 13:15

This is seriously good Stephen! Brilliant last line, always leaves the reader shaking his/her/their head.

Long live 'the tellers of awkward truths'

Uilleam Ó Ceallaigh

Tue 4th Jul 2023 12:16

Thanks Stephen,

We ought also to bear in mind that attempts to "shut up"
"tellers of the awkward truths" are also ongoing in what we view as democratic Britain.... and that many totalitarians and tyrants throughout history also wrote and read poetry.

If you wish to post a comment you must login.

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

Find out more Hide this message