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Lions Led By a Donkey

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I could see the virus approaching so why couldn't he? But he had to keep investors happy and save the economy On his watch people in their thousands, died needlessly The U.K. had a spiralling death rate, a preventable tragedy. He didn't listen to the top scientists, they have said so I hope he doesn't try and deny it and say he didn't know Care home residents from hospitals sent home to die A ring of steel around the vulnerable, seems that was a lie. Denials and lies seems to be a politicians stock in trade Many have looked on in horror at the decisions he's made Lockdowns were implemented but sadly too late While the virus was spreading at an alarming rate. He said " no more lockdowns, let the bodies pile high" His advisor said he said it and of course he'll deny The Bereaved Families for Justice, want a public enquiry A waste of taxpayers money because he governs with impunity. He stood in his doorway clapping with a smile on his face What he offered the NHS 'heroes' is nothing short of a disgrace They were offered a paltry rise of a measly one percent Many put themselves at risk and are now struggling to pay rent. These pandemics are nothing new and this one won't be the last It's a shame that he and other leaders didn't learn from the past Politicians are sparse with the truth, and they often deceive But please make up your own mind on who you want to believe. Written on 25th May 2021.

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Valsa George

Date: 3/26/2022 9:08:00 PM

"These pandemics are nothing new and this one won't be the last It's a shame that he and other leaders didn't learn from the past"...... This is so very true. There have been similar pandemics in the past too.... ! But learning from the past is out of question. This mismanagement is not anything unique to one country. This has been the situation everywhere. A very powerful write, Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/27/2022 2:08:00 AM

https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/the_1918_spanish_flu_pandemic_980045

Tom Cunningham
Date: 3/27/2022 2:07:00 AM

Thank you very much Valsa, it turned out to be a lot more than the common cold. I wrote a poem about the Spanish flu, little did I know that I'd see a pandemic in my lifetime. Tom

Sandra L. Weiss

Date: 6/25/2021 7:40:00 AM

Very powerful, Tom. Hidden agendas seem to be what politics is all about. Self serving with no concern regarding the consequences.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/25/2021 8:28:00 AM

Thank you very much Sandra, seems to be economy first people second, your comment is spot on. Hope you're well. Tom

Robert Lindley

Date: 6/24/2021 3:54:00 AM

As always my friend, you gift such amazing poetry. And this one certainly hits that very high mark. As there was and is an agenda behind the things done- things greatly changed by using the tragic pandemic as a clever cover. Billions are blinded to the darkness and depths of that reality, imho. Truth- you always give us.. A fav.. God bless...

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/24/2021 4:00:00 AM

Thank you very much Robert. I agree governments have used the pandemic to chip away at more of our freedoms, sadly many are blinded to the fact, thanks to for the fave. Hope your week is going well. Tom

Jenna Logan

Date: 6/23/2021 2:36:00 AM

My radar missed this one. How fortunate for me that I perused the list and found it! Unnecessary deaths from the virus(s) have been horrific in number, world wide... and the donkeys bray. Written with your usual talent to hold a reader's interest.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/23/2021 2:40:00 AM

Thank you very much Jenna, our great leaders wanted to save the economy first, people second, its cost them a lot more now. Hope your week is going well. Tom

Gary Radice

Date: 6/17/2021 2:45:00 AM

Not sure how I missed this poem Tom but it states everything I feel inside. It would help if our politicians just held their hands up and admitted mistakes and being caught off guard - instead we get politicians lying and chasing headlines for their own ends. I'm sure corporate manslaughter will raise its head some time in the future. Great poem by the way :) Cheers - Gary

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/17/2021 10:51:00 AM

Thank you very much Gary, pleased you enjoyed it. No doubt an enquiry will be held but you know what the outcome will be. We had the perfect defence being an island and the doors should have been firmly shut back in march 2020. I've no faith in our government, voting for Lord Sutch next time lol. Tom

Sara Kendrick

Date: 6/8/2021 11:46:00 AM

It is sad that the virus got such a foothold over the world before action was taken but I don't think anyone really knew what they were dealing with in this bug. I enjoyed reading your creative work. I hope that the whole world will be more prepared if something like this happens again. However, I think this is just the start toward the end of time as we know it. Thanks for your visit to my page. Sara

Sara Kendrick
Date: 6/13/2021 2:15:00 PM

Yes, Tom, there will be more to come and maybe the pharmaceutical companies will be more prepared next time and be able to get right on it. Sara

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/8/2021 12:29:00 PM

Thank you very much Sara, the thing that annoys me is its not the first pandemic thats affected mankind, we've had Bird flu and the Sars virus, the worry is that there is more to come. Tom

Paula Goldsmith

Date: 6/3/2021 10:37:00 AM

Wow!!! What a write my storytelling friend. You have a wonderful way with your words. The world has gone crazy. May you be blessed..........

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/3/2021 10:55:00 AM

Thank you very much Paula, most world leaders have made a right hash of things Hope you're well Tom

Joanna Daniel

Date: 6/2/2021 8:55:00 AM

A big hidden agenda behind all of this looms large, Tom, you have said well:) I guess, right now, one can't believe any politician..

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/2/2021 8:58:00 AM

Thank you very much Jo, im sure one day the truth will come out about what is really happening behind the scenes. Tom

Jan Allison

Date: 6/2/2021 6:09:00 AM

Well cummins has come out all guns blazing and attacking his buddy Boris, so many cover ups on a global scale. well penned Tom, send it to No ten lol:-) hugs Jan xx

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/2/2021 8:31:00 AM

Lol, im tempted Jan, Cummings is a weasel but as yet hasnt provided anything to stand up in court, maybe he's made recordings. Hope you're enjoying the heatwave. Tom

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/1/2021 5:01:00 PM

I agree with immediate lockdowns but not the way they strung them out over a year! A well written poem, tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/2/2021 2:07:00 AM

Thank you very much Andrea, it does make you wonder about hidden agendas. We're losing our freedom bit by bit. Something sinister behind it. Tom

Jcb Brul

Date: 6/1/2021 1:51:00 PM

There is so much truth in this excellent piece! Your last stanza nailed it! A fav for me.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/1/2021 2:42:00 PM

Thank you very much JCB, Im pleased that you enjoyed it, thanks too for faving it. Tom

Janice Canerdy

Date: 6/1/2021 12:28:00 PM

This is a truly excellent, timely, powerful poem, Tom. In part, it is true for leaders in every country during every crisis. There will always be crises, including pandemics, and there will always be leaders at least temporarily gobsmacked! Janice

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/1/2021 1:28:00 PM

Thank you very much Janice, our government put the economy before the people, thought it was a bad flue dispite scientists telling them otherwise. Tom

Eve Roper

Date: 6/1/2021 7:12:00 AM

Well said and written, Tom. I'm not sure what is going on in the UK, but I think all our leaders turned a blind eye towards this virus. Our state has lifted the no mask, and I assume so everyone out of work can go back to work and business to open their doors. Enjoyed reading. Hugs Eve

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/1/2021 8:55:00 AM

Thank you very much Eve, we'll have to wear masks for the unforeseeable future but only in stores, we're not out of the woods yet. Tom

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 6/1/2021 6:41:00 AM

Well said, I think between Boris and Donald, there is plenty of blame to spread around.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/1/2021 8:53:00 AM

Thank you Richard, i couldn't agree more, one of the highest death tolls in the world, been a right farce from the start. Tom

James Marshall Goff

Date: 5/31/2021 11:21:00 AM

We are free here in Minnesota, hope it stays that way! Family bbq t'day! Good poem, Tom!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/31/2021 12:06:00 PM

Thank you very much James, glad you enjoyed it. Tom

Paul Callus

Date: 5/31/2021 6:27:00 AM

This is excellent, Tom! I can hear a lot of shouting coming from Downing Street...although for a minute I was sure it was coming from Castille Square!! ~ Best regards // paul

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/31/2021 6:51:00 AM

Lol, thanks Paul, we're due to come out of restrictions on june 21st but experts are saying with the variants raging its too soon, but will our government be guided by the science, not a chance. I think we can write off 2021. Hope you're well. Tom

Alexis Y.

Date: 5/30/2021 4:01:00 PM

WoW! Tom, What a well-written and truthful piece. The blind is leading popped in my as I was reading your fine poem. Excellent write. Have a wonderful day-Alexis

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/30/2021 5:09:00 PM

Thank you very much Alexis, our handling of the pandemic has been a complete shambles, we had one of the highest death tolls in the world. Hope you are having a lovely weekend. Tom

Christuraj Alex

Date: 5/30/2021 10:24:00 AM

This, indeed, is a real art in words. So beautiful.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/30/2021 10:30:00 AM

Thank you very much Christuraj, I and many more think things should have been handled better and not putting the economy before people. Tom

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 5/29/2021 7:58:00 PM

Well done Tom your poem tells the truth so well. We’ve heard things that were said behind closed doors that are strenuously denied of course. What about the Nightingale hospitals built and never used, a waste of time and the money that was used. The list of mistakes is endless, we’ve good reason to be afraid… Belle

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/30/2021 1:23:00 AM

Thank you very much Belle, I know Cummings is a weasel but others have supported some of his statements, no smoke without fire, those hospitals cost millions but they weren't used because they had no one to staff them. Any enquiry will find our government innocent of any mistakes, really? Tom

Sotto Poet

Date: 5/29/2021 3:52:00 AM

Tom. This poem is a work of art; you write with sincerity and emotion, making it a pleasure to peruse. Cold-hearted and hateful leaders don't care if the people they oversee perish or keep going as long as they can trick their subjects into voting for them again! It's ubiquitous these days. And so much more have you conveyed in your remarkable reasoning skills! Though the facts are sad, what lovely poetry! Have a great weekend, and thanks for sharing

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/29/2021 3:57:00 AM

Thank you very much Lasaad, I know I speak for many, denials and half-truths have been our governments way of handling this pandemic, hopefully come the next election people will remember, especially those who lost loved ones. Tom

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 5/28/2021 4:06:00 PM

Denial and deaths!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/29/2021 1:33:00 AM

Thank you Kim, enquiries will always take the governments side, nobody will be held to account. Tom

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 5/28/2021 9:47:00 AM

Tom this poem is a gem - you speak with conviction and passion making this a breathtaking poem to read.Yes, I'm afraid the UK under the present prime minister and the USA under Trump have been absolute disasters. No planning, no caring, egotistical men with no substance. It was a terrible experience we had in Natal and it has left me feeling quite scared when Elias must visit clients, so although we used to take it in turns, we now visit them together. Blessing to you and yours Tom, Jennifer.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/28/2021 10:56:00 AM

Thank you very much Jennifer, our great leaders have learnt nothing from past pandemics, they cherry picked what the scientists were telling them. Im just glad you all came to no harm, hopefully in time the memories of that will fade. Enjoy your weekend. Tom

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 5/28/2021 2:59:00 AM

A sign of the times, my dearest friend, Tom. Leaders that are leaders in name only. Heartless leaders who care less if the people they govern die or live as long as they deceive their citizens to reelect them! We see it, almost, everywhere today. Your magnificent poem sheds light upon their wrongdoing but they do not care. For these people human life is nothing, power is everything. Congratulations on your cry for justice! Blessings. Stay safe!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/28/2021 5:20:00 AM

Thank you very much Demetrios, a former advisor has been spilling the beans about the wrong decisions that were made and of course the government denies everything, hopefully an independent enquiry will give us the truth, but I'm not holding my breath. Tom

Besma Riabi Dziri

Date: 5/28/2021 2:01:00 AM

Already the expressive title has said genuinely a lot of how the lives of the huge Humanity of worth lie in the hands of people of no scruples ! And much more you have depicted in a so impressive poetic artistry! So wonderful a poem though aching are these facts! I immensely appreciate your endeavours and elevating poetry, Tom.. Always wishing you great times safe and healthy. My deepest regards and blessings.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/28/2021 2:10:00 AM

Thank you very much Besma, throughout the world leaders have tried to prop up their economies and sadly put people second place but if the people are sick then the economy will suffer anyway, already thousands have lost their jobs and firms shut down. Pandemics are nothing new but mankind is too greedy and stupid. Hope you're well and enjoy your weekend. Tom

Lindsay Laurie

Date: 5/27/2021 5:10:00 PM

Hello Tom ... become a politician and overnight you become an expert on everything. Why can't they just take a backseat and allow the people who know take over. I know, their big mouths and tiny brains won't let them - thanks Tom - Lindsay

Tom Cunningham
Date: 5/28/2021 2:21:00 AM

Thank you very much Lindsay, I agree, before they're voted in they're everyone's friend but soon forget once in office. Tom