The gamut of space is unmeasured
as future projectory durations are futile
for the present
time is a provocative presence
with their backs to the wall
subjecting humankind
a balance with the course of its nature
having the incessant tock that ticks many off the wall
that faces trade with theirs
and that soulless thing of their objection
where lies a litany of unfinished deadlines
leaving these higher-ups against the wall
sharing their objections
whining that the clock had run out of its time
—preposterous
the vacuum of time is indefinite
there is no beginning
there is no ending
mayhaps the time of the day had expired
and if it be so
then there will always be a tomorrow
—time permitting
Good morrow merry citizens
Here’s another Brexit gain
We may have our country back
But we can’t go live in Spain.
Record numbers now
Are all giving thanks
For the almost empty
Essential food banks.
The poor are getting poorer
The rich getting richer
In our Free New Britain
A sad disgraceful picture.
The papers are full daily
Of the unedifying sight
Of the squabbling royals
And their family fight.
The PM’s a Billionaire
Thanks to his wealthy wife
With little understanding of
The poverty of modern life.
The National Health Service
Is shrinking with each day
Just a rundown of our country
Sinking into moral decay.
As you dip your stale crust
Into your tepid weak tea
Just cast a thought to
How things used to be,
We British are at our best
With our backs to the wall
Tugging respectful forelocks as
Our betters openly nick it all.
But, be upstanding good people,
Celebrate the joyous thing
We can still find the millions
To crown our latest king.
newly deceased ghost lit his own caustic farts
wearing aluminum kitty cat ears with red jeweled hearts
our resident wild man Count Dracula laughed
as wisconsin cheese's weird math wizard graphed
gram’s annual preteen sunday school halloween party
was sailing with forthright butt-clenching gasses so farty
too many lima beans hidden under collard greens
fed to disguised beauty queens
embarrassed guests stood with their backs to the wall
scurrying titmouse squeaked displeasure to all
too much cutting of the cheese
a close by witch yelled out “jeez!”
Who made these canapes?
Yelled three disgruntled apes
bathroom was occupied all night
and the living room never smelled right
next year we will serve deer
and a whole lot less beer
beat cop heard what was said
he came around, Captain Fred
he arrested two who were dragg’n
passed out as he pushed them into paddy wagon
was one of those moments of gas
that we all wished would soon pass.
When the Germans invaded Latvia and Estonia
They decided these people would have 3rd Reich favours
And so they recruited or drafted young men into the Waffen SS
Who fought on the Eastern Front battles showing their mettle
When the war started to go bad for the Germans
These troops were still fighting backs to the wall without end
Then Hitler suicided and the Germans surrendered
The Latvian and Estonians couldn’t go home and were stranded
The Nazis had to be tried for criminal behaviour
So these Waffen SS volunteered to guard their old Nazi leaders without favour
And were trained and uniformed as American soldiers
Learning American military drill not goose stepping bolder
Isn’t it ironic that the SS soldiers were in the pay
Of the country seen as an enemy now in a shade of grey
So they stood guard in the Nuremberg courts
As non-goose stepping Ex-Waffen SS Soldiers of sorts
Looking back at the guards so pristine
And know they are not all that very clean
When the Nazi criminals were tried hung or jailed
These ex-Waffen SS ended up in the USA after the war ending prevailed.
© Paul Warren Poetry
How Will It End?
When put to the test time after time,
Our backs to the wall I've got yours you've got mine
We've hugged and we've cried, yes, we've even lied
For a mental health day so our nerves could subside
We're nurses, we're proud, we give all that we've got
Our residents love us, they tell us a lot
They challenge us daily, they push the call button
We ask them what's wrong sometimes they say, "Nuttin'!"
We rack our brains and pull out our hair
To keep them from falling out of their chair
And heaven forbid we should turn our backs
The Incident Report will show all of the facts
The years have flown by so quickly my friends
A question remains: How will it end?
When I'm old and fragile and can't walk anymore
Will there be someone to help me like I've helped before?
Will they show me respect or toss me on a shelf
When it becomes obvious I can't do for myself?
What goes around comes around
We know Karma is true
My conscience is clear...
How about you?
UNSPOKEN CONFESSION
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
the words echoed violently in my ears.
I heard the grinding of the gears,
releasing the latches on the trap door
on which I was standing……
the machinations of interrogation -
and guilt - manifesting themselves,
increased eye blink rate,
uneasy scanning of the scene,
furtive attempts at indifference.
“Is there something you want to tell me!!”
the words the same, the tone different,
more insistent in its knowingness
less tolerant of the stinging silence
no plea bargain offered.
I stood there – crayons in hand –
my colorful new friends
standing behind me - backs to the wall.
John G. Lawless
6/27/2015
submitted to – Is There Something You Want to tell me – poetry contest
sponsor – Judy Konos
Mm, A limerick to write about shoes
Now which ones can I choose
Imelda Marcos I'll call
Now my backs to the wall
I've got the picking shoes blues
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