Bland On Bland – Freedom
Ian In England
The theme for this week’s JVG Radio Method is “Freedom”
I am over in the UK at the moment and am phoning the poems in to the show.
No rest for the wicked eh?
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Freedom
‘Desecration’ screamed the headline – and it was, without a doubt
‘Scum’ roared the evening news – not wanting to miss out
Footage of the War memorial – defaced – vandalized
No suspects – just suspicions and universally despised
A slur to the memory of those who died in freedom’s name
Anyone and everyone quick to lay the blame
Youths, bored and aimless known to haunt the park at night
The papers, like their stories, define the world in black and white
A deed both vile and senseless – repugnant – and that’s a fact
But the reasons, far more complex, cower beneath the act
Communities abandoned, left to fester and ferment
Besieged by immigration, dysfunction, rising rent
Father’s – gone or absent, more frequently unknown
Mother’s lost to booze and boyfriends – left to fend alone
Raised with violence and indifference – rage replaces tears
Forced to find belonging on the streets amongst their peers
Love is snatched then flees in the park behind the bushes
Isolation pushing children pushing babies in their pushers
Government departments building wheels within the wheels
Restrained by shrinking budgets and political ideals
Manufacturers deserting, closing factories, crying poor
Obscene remuneration for exporting jobs off shore
There’s profit in graffiti – while selling paint is not a crime
Every tag and fill helps to boost the bottom line
Anger beds with boredom to unleash a foul tirade
Fuelled by grog from supermarkets sold for less than lemonade
Why assume respect when respect was never shown?
Someone else’s problems, when ignored, become our own
A shameful, senseless action – and one you can’t excuse
I guess Kristofferson was right
“Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose”
Freedom
‘Desecration’ screamed the headline – and it was, without a doubt
‘Scum’ roared the evening news – not wanting to miss out
Footage of the War memorial – defaced – vandalized
No suspects – just suspicions and universally despised
A slur to the memory of those who died in freedom’s name
Anyone and everyone quick to lay the blame
Youths, bored and aimless known to haunt the park at night
The papers, like their stories, define the world in black and white
A deed both vile and senseless – repugnant – and that’s a fact
But the reasons, far more complex, cower beneath the act
Communities abandoned, left to fester and ferment
Besieged by immigration, dysfunction, rising rent
Father’s – gone or absent, more frequently unknown
Mother’s lost to booze and boyfriends – left to fend alone
Raised with violence and indifference – rage replaces tears
Forced to find belonging on the streets amongst their peers
Love is snatched then flees in the park behind the bushes
Isolation pushing children pushing babies in their pushers
Government departments building wheels within the wheels
Restrained by shrinking budgets and political ideals
Manufacturers deserting, closing factories, crying poor
Obscene remuneration for exporting jobs off shore
There’s profit in graffiti – while selling paint is not a crime
Every tag and fill helps to boost the bottom line
Anger beds with boredom to unleash a foul tirade
Fuelled by grog from supermarkets sold for less than lemonade
Why assume respect when respect was never shown?
Someone else’s problems, when ignored, become our own
A shameful, senseless action – and one you can’t excuse
I guess Kristofferson was right
“Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose”
© Copyright 2009 Ian Bland
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