TWO POEMS

From a forthcoming collection - Unholy Empires

Alexis Lykiard

THE PEOPLE’S REPRESENTATIVE AT WESTMINSTER

Unheralded and vilified, true pride of London town,
after weary years of protest camped upon the pavement,
victim of random assault, prey to police harassment,
and the petty spite of bureaucratic legislation,
Haw remains intransigent: neither backing off nor down.
His aim just to rile the conmen, cause them embarrassment,
win allies on this tented watch. Thus he keeps his station

under Big Ben, reproaches round the clock a Parliament
turned quite tame and passive. He’s never yet seen fit to quit,
our stubborn holy fool, but summons up some brazen wit,
forecasting glummer things to come, and speaks for the nation
on viewing the new wearer of the War Criminal’s crown –
crony-catcher McBuggins, aka Gordon Brown.
Everyone should credit it: "Different arsehole, same old shit".

NECROPHILIA RULES

Fame feeds the greedy masses, but the Soft Machine
needs freshest logos for new life – pale yellow, green.
Invest in sentiment and crown Diana Queen.
Ignore an end colder than tubs of margarine.

Our Lady’s fittest, least inspiring image
lacks gravitas, and yet exhorts us to be lean.
Her signature’s here: one wonders why it
should favour any brand. An unctuous message

from the Flora folk gives THANKS to Di. It
seems mere self-indulgence not to diet
now. Good works work best after you die… It
improves humble pie, so all must buy. It

is ideally quick, an equitable spread,
that smears the whole world smooth. So tasteless, thin.
We’ll scoff the lot, over our daily bread,
welcoming Death with its broad media grin.

Meanwhile for saint or sinner it’s
light years from dinner at the Ritz
and breakfast time may prove too bland, too quiet.
Drive faster, comes the summons, do let’s try it!

 

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