1006 - Bad blood

D-Day’s 65th anniversary
Presidents and royalty viewed the graves
Sullied by a little controversy
That led to boos for Brown instead of waves
The Queen was not invited, and that leaves
Questions about France, why it snubbed Britain
And why Brown did nothing, but seems to heave
From one storm to another like the men
Who crossed the Channel, so young and fresh then,
Back in’44. Seems that Sarkozy
Wanted to pose with Obama by waves
Of Omaha Beach once red with fallen
American blood. Unfortunately,
Politicians just can’t seem to behave…
Sat 6 June 2009

902 - At war with music and time

A long hard day recording my war song
Who said music was fun? He should be shot
I’ve worked so hard and I have worked so long
I’ve missed my tea and dinner, can’t have hot
Food now, it’s too late. I even forgot
To ring my daughter, simply had no chance
Poor thing, I hope she knows, love her a lot
No time even for any new romance
Though someone out there wants us to make plans
I’m writing this near midnight, as I bung
Two sandwiches in my trap and then blot
Out thoughts of work tomorrow with a man’s
TV diet of war films - is that wrong?
Who knows, but who cares? I don’t care a jot!
Sun 22 Feb 2009

799 - 11/11, 11am

At eleven this morning, ninety years
Have passed since the end of that awful war
Only three survivors now, shedding tears
For fallen comrades, old memories still raw
The new National Memorial, not too far
From my home town of Lichfield, is the scene
Of sombre ceremony; with such poor
Weather, that beam of light will not be seen
To shine through the crack in the wall that means
To make the wreaths glow at this time of year
To shine gold rays of glory on the poor
Long-gone heroes of '14 to '18
Eleven has passed now; the sun appears
Briefly. Heavy cloud returns as before
Tue 11 Nov 2008

463 - Fears in Algiers

A massive loss of life in Algiers
Al Qaeda is suspected, naturally
The usual focus of the media’s
The death toll, of course, but what’s hard to see
Is why they attacked a Muslim country,
And UNHCR which helps their poor.
Maybe they see it more symbolically,
A western branch cut off by Muslim saw.
Or are the causes internal affairs,
One group against another? Could it be
The smouldering embers of civil war?
One thing’s for sure: expect to have your fears
Built up about all Muslims generally.
Tue 11 Dec 2007

453 - Sudan death

If you go down Sudanwards today, you're
Sure of a big surprise. Don't take your bear
For it's no picnic there, especially for
Foreigners, but also Sudanese there
Untold numbers of refugees need care
But no-one cares. In Darfur and the south
The ethnic cleansing, rape, torture, despair
Endless uncivil war. And so look out
Sudan has oil, and the west's big black snout
Is in there along with China's. The poor
Are terrorised with armour we prepare
And supply with fuel. Our governments spout
Against the horror, but while payments pour
Into enough accounts, long live warfare!

Sat 1 Dec 2007

433 - We must remember them

Today's the day we remember the dead
Not all the dead, just ones that the state killed
In fighting some other state over bread
Earned from oil, or squabbling over soil filled
With bones not belonging to states, but mild-
Supposedly free - people, forced at gun-
Point to appoint their kids to some well-drilled
Boatman to row them over the Styx. Sun
Sets on all empires, all riches, all fun
But while we're here the stately race goes on
And let's face it - when our side's won we've said
Well done, to our hired fists so young and skilled
Their blood was spilled to keep us all well-fed
At others' expense. A toast! Red wine, chilled

Sun 11 Nov 2007

390 - If to intervene in Iraq was wrong

If to intervene in Iraq was wrong,
Then we must also leave Burma alone,
Now that the monk-led crowd have heard the gong
That ends their act, to our half-hearted groan.
The law says there must be a wider zone
Affected by events. This sadly lets
Soldier states struggle on till they lie prone
In pools of brown and red, weighed down by debts,
Disease and hunger. Though the UN frets,
There’s little can be done. Money is strong,
Stronger than armies. China is a clone
Of western greed now, and the Soviets.
A new generation will come along
In Burma and elsewhere. The seeds are sown.
Sat 29 Sep 2007

388 - Orgasmic supernova, spread your seed

Orgasmic supernova, spread your seed
Across the supine space, finding tiny
Eggs, watery planets ready to breed,
Impregnated by comets, hot, shiny.
Diseased insects, blown over the briny
North seas, infect British cows with bluetongue,
The virus injected, porcupiny,
Turning empires of bovine cells to dung.
The oil wells east of Palestine have sung
Their siren song, and investors decreed
Leaders should hire invaders, screw whiny
Impeders. “Feed us well,” the cracked bell rang.
Death and life intertwining, mutual need,
Deep breath striving to come, freed, finally.
Thur 27 Sep 2007

378 - Free will is like political freedom

Free will is like political freedom:
It’s there, but kept in check by many laws,
Physical forces, some we know, and some
Hidden from sight, perhaps in a good cause,
Because most of us are selfish, of course;
Given the choice, we’d choose the most and best,
So peace must be maintained, preventing wars
Between man and man, as with east and west.
So some are born strong and, meanwhile, the rest
Learn to be good and kind, and not to come
Asking for more, to be content with chores,
Speaking occasionally, then repressed.
Of course we can choose which shoes to put on;
Of course we vote in whispers, not in roars.
Mon 17 Sep 2007

372 - Sixth anniversary. I remember

Sixth anniversary. I remember
Someone in Sainsbury’s supermarket
Telling me that hot day in September
2001 that the towers were hit.
I needed somewhere fast where I could sit
And listen to the news. My old green Ford
Sierra Sapphire afforded me it,
And as I tuned in, that is when I heard
The second tower had fallen like a sword
In the west’s south side. Could they dismember
It? By evening, as three stunned housemates met
To watch, no invasion came from abroad.
Assassin’s sudden stab, retreat, ember
Of history’s end and heedless profit.
Tue 11 Sep 2007

367 - The British system? It's just not cricket

The British system? It’s just not cricket.
It’s not fair play. It’s still I’m alright, Jack.
We’re not gregarious, so we closet
Ourselves away in small castles while rack
And ruin lie outside. We all stay back
Behind net-curtained battlements, see kids
On the loose, drug addicts, a giant crack
Through which the failures fall, tyre marks and skids
And flowers by lamp posts. Our rich land rids
Itself of guilt for poor death. Soldiers hit
And maim in distant lands. Shareholders crack
Open bubbly to sounds of coffin lids.
Where is our conscience, our empathy? It
Seems there are things our leaders always lack.
Thur 6 Sep 2007

171 - They say Prince Harry's going to Iraq

They say Prince Harry’s going to Iraq
To fight just like the other soldier boys.
Fair play to him; willing to face the flak,
Though hardly lacking in career choice.
Let’s hope this means they’ll get all of the toys
They need, like rocket-proof cars and ammo.
Those roadside bombs from Iran are the ploys
Insurgents use to deal that fatal blow.
The Falklands war twenty-five years ago
Saw Uncle Andy develop the knack
Of flying choppers acting as decoys
For Exocet missiles so troops below
Could safely disembark and then attack.
Since then he’s just played golf and made no further noise.
Thur 22 Feb 2007

167 - Old Art Garfunkel sat with Tony Blair

Old Art Garfunkel sat with Tony Blair
On TV studio sofa, shaking hands
And scratching backs; oh, so much love was there
’Tween guitar-totin’ leader of this land
With Yankee tunes glued to his music stand,
And the old grizzly bear with frizzy hair,
Th’ angelic voice proclaiming Scarborough Fair,
Bridge over troubled borders, blood and sand.
There really hasn’t been a better pair
Since Tom and Jerry; should a tour be planned?
The military love ’em; in Tehran
They’d go down like a desert storm, I swear!
Their critics’ voices now a silent sound,
In close harmony they fly, homeward bound.
Sun 18 Feb 2007

133 - The Brits, Russkies and Yanks all invaded

The Brits, Russkies and Yanks all invaded
Afghanistan; the Yanks and Brits, Iraq.
Enthusiasm flared and then faded,
And soldiers’ parents called their children back.
The media shows nothing of the fight
(Can’t repeat what they showed in Vietnam)
And so the public mind forgets the plight
Of troops, while leaders talk tough to Iran.
The hardest question faced today is this:
To intervene, or leave things as they are?
History lessons teach us not to miss
The bus. We have to exploit and make war.
Next time, why not just invade Africa?
Why invade places that are trickier?

First of two postings today. Take three hours apart as recommended.
Mon 15 Jan 2007

131 - Some highlights of the previous century

Some highlights of the previous century:
The war was a boer. After Vicky, Ed,
Two Georges, then Liz. Two world wars ended
With us winning. We wrote the history.
The bomb, the pill; the baby boomers flew
In supersonic jets to sunny lands.
The factories filled with former farm hands,
Then laid them off, as competition grew.
Stateside: Ford’s car, Wall Street and the dust bowl.
Folk songs sang about wrongs and civil rights.
Manhattan skyscrapers, Hollywood nights
In front of the TV, plus rock and soul.
To Arabs, Jews, to Commies and right wing:
What good came out of all your arguing?

Condensed history, inspired by Troosha’s post yesterday!
Sat 13 Jan 2007

69 - '69, when mankind reached for the moon

’69, when mankind reached for the moon,
And Serge Gainsbourg sang ‘Année Erotique,’
When hair was long, and songs did not end soon,
And girls hung it all out at the boutique.
The baby boomers grew to adulthood,
Setting the agenda that gave us peace.
The next generation wanted new blood,
Knowing nothing of war’s atrocities.
No-one starts wars thinking they will last long -
Not kaisers, presidents or generals.
But children never lifted by the strong
Arms of dead fathers know of the pitfalls.
And so we learn again not to pick fights,
But to be friends. Now set the joint alight!
Sun 12 Nov 2006

68 - Eleven eleven nineteen eighteen

Eleven eleven nineteen eighteen -
The day they all came crawling from craters,
And crossed the lines of bodies and machine
Guns planted in fields alongside nature’s
Other red flowers with a blackened heart,
The poppies. Today is Remembrance Day.
The old queen shivers now, at winter’s start,
Reading her speech of thanks that folk obey
Their country’s call even today. Sometimes
It’s a career, other times an order,
Refusal and participation crimes
Of different sorts. Should we cross the border?
In the end we fight for our family,
Not just for lies on radio and TV.
Sat 11 Nov 2006

65 - The Democrats have made Bush a lame duck

The Democrats have made Bush a lame duck,
Or, rather, the American voter
Has chosen to oppose his country stuck
Up Shi-ite creek without a fast motor.
But don’t think that all ills have been dispelled
By scapegoating old Rummy, no siree.
Hanging Saddam and kicking out Rumsfeld
Is not sufficient to bring victory.
It’s not just about Iraq, but Israel.
Supporting that state is conditional
On not committing war crimes, or we fail
To bring peace, and our soldiers home, at all.
Today in Palestine more children died.
The enemy of peace is also on our side.
Wed 8 Nov 2006

45 - I wasn't 'sent to Coventry' today

I wasn’t ‘sent to Coventry’ today -
I went there of my own accord, to run
In War Memorial Park, but long delay
In traffic meant the race had just begun
When I got there. This town was near-destroyed
By many German bombs in World War Two.
And then it built cars, but how to avoid
Closing the plants, with BMW,
And cheaper Oriental models? Things
Change, and the old jobs that our parents did
Have gone. Hey kids! No manufacturing
Careers here. If you’re poor, the lid
Of life’s great treasure chest is often locked.
Meanwhile, more hopeful immigrants have docked.
Thur 19 Oct 2006

22 - Is there a point to life? Some say it is

Is there a point to life? Some say it is
To reproduce. Each generation learns
From parents, experts and philosophies,
And so we grow. But still the fire burns
As oil ignites Iraq, and Iraqis
Fight on, on their own soil. Both we and they
Still childlike: schoolyard minds, antipathies
Resolved by grown-ups swapping punches. Hey!
Wake up and smell the Kofi. There’s one earth,
One human race, one oil supply, one dream.
No child should be rich on their day of birth.
When people die, they must offer the cream
To those who have no water. Love is dry
Till fertilised with raindrops from on high.
Tue 26 Sep 2006