Gods And Men

 

“When the Gods made man,
they kept immortality to themselves."

The Epic Of Gilgamesh

 

"We keep it, we keep it,

it is ours, the lotus flowers’

secret is in the stamen and calyx.

We allow no mortals’ fingers in the pot,

not one jot falls to their lot."

 

Bankers die,

Emperors too.

 

Yet.

 

They keep it, they keep it,

 

Do they see us through

their telescope reversed?

If not, then surely

their rich contempt is just perverse.

Worse, we really are so small

as not to matter to them at all.

 

“I know what I like

and I like what I know.”

 

We are mowing lawns,

and driving cars – in caps -

for the captains and the kings

of industry and finance.

 

We made, we welded

we turned on lathes,

we dug,

we worked the black seam,

we farmed.

 

We serve,

we deserve no better,

we know no better,

we are not fit

for purpose,

to vote,

to think.

 

We ARE the working class.

 

Not you.