Flackmoth wishes science could eliminate
the foul gas certain edibles create,
notably cabbage and baked beans
and when released cause vivid scenes
of embarrassment to the offending ilk
who do their best to conceal their guilt –
at packed church suppers especially
when neighborly conviviality
and best behavior proximity
often suffer most, and a stampede
for fresh air becomes everyone’s need
and the perfect face-saving opportunity
to release any residue with anonymity.
someone attempts to cheat us
which we disallow
tension heightens, tempers flare
harsh words are exchanged
hmmm
what could or should we have done
to offer a face saving route
to the wayward soul
we so reflect …
the old men in their dress suits,
uniform of their trade
talked away for days
until a type of peace was made
and the troops could come back home
from peacekeeping in the land
a face saving formula
with the withdrawal all planned
and out in the real world
the factions of left and right
survived in spite of the invasion
quietly prepared to restart their fight
in a land made even more desolate
than before the invasion began
until there emerged again
a dominant leading man
and that tyranny
supposedly overthrown
emerged from the shadows
regenerated and re-grown
and the old men in their dress suits
seeing the stability of command
forget the dead maimed and dying
and shake the bloodied hands
a carnage for nothing
for when all is said and done
if tyranny wears a different face
has any victory been really won
What difference can you feel,
if any,
between confrontation
and engagement?
Between nonviolent communication
and WinnerTakeAll debate,
or wrestling,
for that win/lose matted matter?
InBetween cooperative compassion,
dissociative persuasion,
competitive dispassion?
Between LoseLose despair,
win/lose anxiety,
win/win anticipation?
InBetween Mono-
Bi-
Poly-Cultural
world views?
Between liberation
and conservation?
Between dialectical discernment dialogue
and oppositional competitive privileged position?
InBetween invoking cooperative compassion therapy
and provoking traumatic face-saving oppression?
Between taking a deep listening solidarity stand
and giving your autonomous position statement?
About differences you may feel,
between divisive confrontation
and inclusive engagement.
Back to back they rolled in now
Overwhelmed with no time to lose
We were fighting a war with soap not guns
We are the warriors in Blue.
They flashed it in the news
We were tackling a deadly disease
Two shifts on the go no time to lose
We are the warriors in Blue.
The dead bodies are piling up now
We were committed to our cause
Working for hours without a pause
We are the warriors in Blue.
We put in our best to save the rest
Time has passed they say it’s a type of flu
Mask and shield on the face,saving the human race
We are the warriors in Blue.
Come what may it’s a brand new day
We are gaining ground on this round
We will overcome and start anew
We are the warriors in Blue.
Villanelle : In what way has the Sexual Revolution freed Man
In what way has the Sexual Revolution freed Man
One man's still at the helm where one woman pulls the purse strings
Political structures still rest authoritarian
Is Reich's Function of the O.ga.m lame duck also ran
Do power struggles at all levels bounce bums on bed springs
In what way has the Sexual Revolution freed Man
Strikes protests manifestations mere excuses we ban
Face-saving measures populist fire-brand broken wings
Political structures still rest authoritarian
Does kiss-tail orgasmic reflex replace sublime élan
The chimère of suppressed masses condemned to strum heart strings
In what way has the Sexual Revolution freed Man
Who hoists family father-figure as revered top sultan
No authority at home spells chaos at source well-springs
Political structures still rest authoritarian
Sans moral consciousness the substratum cracks in ev'ry man
Abuse an innocent child he'll in turn abuse all beings
In what way has the Sexual Revolution freed Man
Political structures still rest authoritarian
© T. Wignesan - Paris, November 17, 2018