The city state of London

[Benjamin]

Mired in anachronism: fortress of the elite.

Bolt-hole of banker oligarch and sheikh.

Whose population brims with expertise:

the lucky honest-- and successful thieves.

Where politicians orchestrate a dance

ignoring ragged-arsed philanthropy.

Support the ermine, pomp and circumstance

of this, a bartered old democracy.

A blind eye to external poverty

for he serves best who also serves himself.

With nought to equal the success you'll see

save trappings of hereditary wealth.

So raise the drawbridge like Poe's Prospero

and sacrifice all for your status quo.

[Benjamin]

Written in 2014, I felt it deserved another outing in view of this week's decision to leave the European Union.

[Tinker]

You are right Geoff, this reads like it was written yesterday. I still haven't wrapped my brain around what just happened but this poem shines a light.

 

~~Tink

[abstrect-christ]

not sure of how bad the corruption was back in 2014 in the UK but it's def's a good piece on the corrupt and capitalist societies underbelly of just about any country these days.

[rhymeguy]

I have read this many times. Each time I am more interested in the message. I can't decide upon which side of the issue you fall. Not being an astute political observer, I don't understand all the arrangements.

It would seem to me that this decision has turned the status quo on its head. Is that correct thinking?

[Benjamin]

I believe Cameron, calling the referendum was an arrogant gamble: a political mistake, a ploy to pacify and unify his ruling party who represent vested interests and have a very slender majority in Parliament. The plan has backfired spectacularly with an unexpected result, against a background of political coups; because the one person, one vote, could not be gerrymandered, and the majority of people, who live outside the affluent Greater London area, voted to leave. Re: status quo. The predators will out: and as the dust settles, the rich will still be rich, the politicians will still connive and lie, and the poor will still be poor. I may be an old cynic, but I foresee an excuse for years of more austerity and cuts to public services; with increases in general taxation to boot, for millions of captive Pay As You Earn workers.

Regarding whose side I am on? Why the side of decency, fairness and truth of course, but they don't have a box to put a cross in on the ballot papers.

[rhymeguy]

Thank you for taking the time to help me understand.

[dcmarti1]

a bartered old democracy

 

Like pining for a lost love.