M.C. Newberry

POWER SHOWER

by M.C. Newberry

Tuesday 5th June 2018 5:13 pm

Praise the Lord that I'm not a copper

With this present lot parading in power,

And before you think that's improper,

I'm including the opposite shower.

Incessantly interfering

In a once great public service,

With stuff that have crims cheering

While the law-abiding get nervous.

Cut-backs on costs with severity

Because of political failing...

In the dubious name of austerity

With no cure in sight for what's ailing.

The streets are handed to scumbags

To riot and plunder and kill,

We'll be hiding shop money in bumbags

Now there's seldom a sight of Old Bill!

"Keep people out of prison!"

Is now the givernment's idea,

Not seeing the devil has risen

And the innocent are walking in fear.

Those choosing politics for a living

Are rapidly losing the plot,

Busy taking while others are giving,

They're the "haves" while the public have not!

............................................................................

🌷(3)

◄ QUESTION

HOW? ►

Comments

M.C. Newberry

Sat 9th Jun 2018 14:43

Thank you all for the comments. The subject will remain
a topic of concern from what I see happening in society
today. Moral courage has been hijacked by an attitude of
mind that gives every avenue of excuse and escape to the
wrongdoer, with the legal profession (via a substantial
representation in Parliament) playing endless games with
the meaning and effect of words they alone are
responsible for in formulating and enacting the laws we
try to abide by, only to see them manipulated and "massaged" to mendacious ends by their creators/
interpreters. No wonder the great W.S. Gilbert (himself a barrister) took aim with such knowing accuracy
in the famous G&S comic operas back in a time of less susceptible sensitive social sensibilities.

<Deleted User> (18118)

Fri 8th Jun 2018 20:47

This poem is an important statement as crime seems to be running out of control and the police role in this is uncertain.
I was very upset to hear of the ruthless attack on two elderly ladies, one aged 100 who has since died.
The other aged 90.
How can one express the depth of sorrow ?
Thank you for your work.

Hannah

suki spangles

Wed 6th Jun 2018 04:50

Nice flow to the poem, M.C, particularly the last 3 verses.

Suki

M.C. Newberry

Wed 6th Jun 2018 00:45

May I follow up my blog on the question of rehabilitation...mentioned by me in a letter to my
local MP about the utterances of the minister keen to keep offenders out of prison. The essential main
point is that his "12 month" limit basically removes the
authority of the lower courts whose power to impose
imprisonment was (and I suspect still is) limited to 6 months per offence.
If they are minded, due to the nature of a crime,
to impose more "bird" the case goes "up the road" to the
higher court. Now for the question of "rehabilitation".
Let us consider the stages open to courts to punish
an offender before imprisonment is on the table.
In no particular order and maybe even missing out one or two, there is ...
absolute discharge/conditional discharge/fine/community
service order/probation and suspended sentence.
So, someone has to be very naughty nowadays to arrive
at the stage when "bird" is imposed.
In short, I suggest that if rehabilitation hasn't worked
during the stages mentioned, it's hardly likely to work by
the later stages of a criminal career when jail is considered
a risk worth taking. Even more so perhaps these days
when we see violent behaviour treated with leniency by courts under pressure to save money (something to be deplored) rather than the proper course of protecting the
public. We see those who have killed (and more than
once) being given sentences that allow for their eventual
release back into the society of people they clearly hold in murderous contempt. Losing the plot? That's barely
adequate for such cowardly surrender to those such as they. Retribution is not a dirty word and should not be
condemned as "revenge". Let the punishment fit the crime.

Graham Sherwood

Wed 6th Jun 2018 00:20

Some of the comments on this thread have been edited/moderated.

<Deleted User> (18980)

Tue 5th Jun 2018 23:38

Graham - I agree, and I apologise for my comment which seems to have triggered this off. It was meant to be a throwaway line but I think it was interpreted wrongly.

Graham Sherwood

Tue 5th Jun 2018 23:28

I think it's about time the comments on this thread became little less personal and abusive. I for one am getting fed up with differing opinions turning into metaphorical pokes in the eye. Be different but be nice!

<Deleted User> (18980)

Tue 5th Jun 2018 20:43

Yes I do agree with rehabilitation, but you can take a horse to water...

I also don't agree with reduced sentence for a guilty plea and reduced sentence for good behaviour. I think good behaviour should be the norm and that any bad behaviour should result in a longer sentence.

Hazel ettridge

Tue 5th Jun 2018 20:36

Going for rehabilitation is like going for world peace. You have to keep trying because the alternative is unthinkable.

<Deleted User> (18980)

Tue 5th Jun 2018 19:26

When these leftie liberals come on the telly and tell us that prison doesn't work, I always ask back "for whom?" If a persistent criminal is taken out of circulation for a couple of years I'm all for it.

keith jeffries

Tue 5th Jun 2018 18:47

MC.,
A well composed poem which will appeal to many whilst also reminding people to make politicians fully accountable responsible for those who they claim to represent.
Thank you for this
Keith

If you wish to post a comment you must login.

Please consider supporting us

Donations from our supporters are essential to keep Write Out Loud going

Bringing poetry to people

Click here to donate now