We find solace

We find solace

In each other.

Sharing experience

Forming circles

Crowding city squares

Bellies full of anger

Waiting for the bombs to fall

Bones and blood

Arms and legs

All as one, marching forward

As to battle

Wielding books as weapons

Their history

Catching fire in our hands.

Burning,

Incandescent as the sun

Waiting for it

To bring daylight

Lead us not into temptation.

As darkness falls

Books wither, like leaves

Dried and emaciated

Turning to dust

Out of touch with nature.

Nothing matters without illumination

Babies with swollen bellies

Crying

Nothing but a whisper

Sight unseen

Build me a rocket, boys

Blow them all to kingdom come

Smash it all to smithereens.

Buy a star

Own a planet

Rent it out for Christmas

Fully furnished.

Emperors are fashionable

We wear them on our t-shirts,

Our hats,

Bigger than Elvis

Hotter than July.

Queue for your supper

Hand me a food stamp

It is a ticket to paradise

Food for all

It is the least we can expect.

Read it in the headlines

In the voting booth

On the balance sheet

In the debit column

When they count the cost

Of suffering

Weigh it against

The greater good

And come up wanting.

Flesh is no defence

Against indifference

It falls away

As the devil has his way

The circles we form

Will be broken

By those who would rule

Riding roughshod

Over good intentions

To sully the memory

Of emancipation.