we were sold a lie

we were sold a lie – they told us:
technology will make your lives easier

but instead we forgot how to communicate
and we forgot how to love
and we forgot how to be compassionate

we just kept thinking of ourselves
and all that we could order and consume
and all the places we could Instagram
and all the opinions we could share

and like
and hate
and invent

until the lie became normalised
and the fake became reality

we couldn’t comprehend what they had done
or how our greed had destroyed our lives
how alike we had become
how sad we all were

and it was too late to change
the lie had been cast
our feet were in concrete
we couldn’t move forward or back

we could only push buttons

entitlement

does a sense of entitlement
tangle up the mind?

– with anger and angst
– thoughts unkind

are any of our words
worth more than we need?

– food in our bellies
– air that we breathe

what value to creation
who pays and who buys?

– let’s keep it in perspective
– see truth through our eyes

Creation Blues

well I’m sitting down here on this park bench
throwing some crumbs of worldly wisdom
to my waiting flock of feral pigeons

when a gang of youths run through my faithfuls
shouting fucking pigeons and fucking vermin
they scatter, regroup, whilst I watch on

I got them Creation Blues man
Oh yes, I got them Creation Blues
Them Creation Blues have come for me

well they goose step off, my peace restored
until a fat boy and girl begin to toss
their fast food packaging upon the grass

a hooded figure dashes out into the open
thrusts a shiny blade into their bulging guts
packets of white powder falling from his pockets

I got them Creation Blues man
Oh yes, I got them Creation Blues
Them Creation Blues have come for me

well I’m sorry to say, all Hell was then let loose
wild people appearing from many dark corners
brandishing knives and fighting for the powder

I turn to see the trees being chainsawed to the ground
great plumes of smoke drifting across the park
dog barks, police sirens, gun shots, explosions

I got them Creation Blues man
Oh yes, I got them Creation Blues
Them Creation Blues have come for me

well it felt like this was the end of my world
oh Jesus, Mary and Joseph I cried
deliver me from this evil that I created

but the words were silent, my voice had died
no-one was listening
they thought I’d lied

I got them Creation Blues man
Oh yes, I got them Creation Blues
Them Creation Blues have come for me

 

Behind your colourful facades

Behind your colourful facades

 

what shall I write you on this maudlin morning

what shall I write you on this maudlin morning
that peers between clouds over the hillside

what shall I tell you that you haven’t already heard
what truths and lies that hide behind my words

what shall I keep from you in future safe storage
those little white lies we disguise behind our eyes

what shall you take from me and what will I give
this moment or that or the past so recently forgot

what shall the day bring if nothing’s worth repeating
more clouds, more rain, more words, more sighs

what shall I write you on this maudlin morning
that pours between us like an ocean divide

i can only manage minutes

Proxy World

I hide within words unspoken
Afraid of the world outside
The shadows and noisy commotions
The hubbub and all of its lies

I never intended to be this way
And I never was a long time before
The rules of engagement were altered
Like graffiti sprayed on our walls

I used to say what I wanted
Used to say it out loud and be proud
But now my views all lie silent
Hushed with leaves on the ground

For some my words were mistaken
From others false accusations flew
It seems there’s no room for tolerance
I’m tired of bad language and feuds

I’m sorry if this seems ungrateful
There are many who don’t have a voice
Perhaps it’s their turn to take over
I don’t know what’s left to be said

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/proxy/

The Total Paradigm Shift Generation

Hi there, we’re sorry for the inconvenience
But like, we’re trying to CHANGE the world
You know, only the people can FIGHT injustice
We NEED system change not climate change
We are the 99% – TOO BIG TO FAIL

The corrupt FEAR us
The honest SUPPORT us
The heroic JOIN us

For ALL our grievances ARE connected
And you have the right NOT to remain SILENT
BLOG / TWEET / POST / SHARE / SHOUT
TURN OFF your TV and PAY ATTENTION
DEFEND human needs over corporate GREED

We are YOU
We are THE PEOPLE
We OCCUPY your HEART

We are the TOTAL PARADIGM SHIFT Generation
With the power of LOVE over the power of MONEY
The 99% that won’t go away
For these streets are OUR streets
And WE are NOT disposable

(original photo c/o Getty Images / Independent)