T Wignesan Poet Villanelle

Notes About The Poem

Villanelle: What Do You Do If the Culprit's the Country

Villanelle: What do you do if the Culprit’s the Country

What do you do if the Culprit’s the Country
Will the Head of State turn against the Police
Go hang yourself on the nearest pipal* tree

Which country faults on its own territory
When It cracks down citizens or migrant mice
What do you do if the Culprit’s the Country

Take the oath if it bolsters the Enemy
No pious paean will wash sins away, please
Go hang yourself on the nearest pipal tree

Your life’s not yours to take if not for Patrie*
Ribbons and medals on chest consecrate vice*
What do you do if the Culprit’s the Country

O! for the belles bells tolling the reverie
Look! My Country’s crown towers above cloud’s fleece
Go hang yourself on the nearest pipal tree

No country’s worth the life of one family
If the force that protects corrupts the Police
What do you do if the Culprit’s the Country
Go hang yourself on the nearest pipal tree

•	pipal: since the pipal tree has no prop roots, at least,
in death you can serve to prop it up

•	Patrie: French for Mother Country
•	vice: French pronunciation, please!

© T. Wignesan – Paris,  2015

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