I used to be like you

Cherry

By Parson Thru

Tue, 24 Apr 2018
  • 3388 reads
14 comments
 

I used to be a liberal
leaning to the left
convinced that change was possible
and property was theft

I proudly flew the rainbow flag
above my garden gate
but swapped it for St George’s rag
before it was too late

A neighbour said he’d seen it out
and asked if I was queer
I told him what I cared about
was borders and warm beer

I'd had a revelation
that anonymous fat cats
were about to hand the nation
to foreign bureaucrats

Strident liberals bled my ear
the insults whistled by
I took some solace in Top Gear
and kept my powder dry

I found an on-line audience
and write on every thread
words of basic common sense
with nothing left unsaid

And when the snowflakes whine
I shoot an arrow straight and true
poisoned with the killer line:
I used to be like you

Certificate U
Poem
Passed on
Humour

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Quite thought-provoking, and keeping away from reasons for change of positions. With all the internet discussions, there seems much less listening and analysis of reasoned explanations. I don't think I've read anything of yours with such tightly rolling metre and rhyme – it seems to work well! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

It's changed a bit while I was writing my comment! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Sorry Rhiannon!

:)

Premature submission.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Parson Thru on

I didn't say thank you.

Thank you. x

Parson Thru

Submitted by Ewan on

very good. I think you need "was" in line 3.
Good luck with the consequences!

I still am, a liberal that is, small 'l'. Oh, and Tolerant with a capital 'T'.

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Jajajaja

Every corner of my mind is a swing state, but small l overall.

Thank goodness for T. Tolerance is an interesting idea in itself. Tolerant or non-judgemental. A high-wire act. Better rescue my pasta. Thanks for the fruit.

Parson Thru

Submitted by Ewan on

I like that mind corner swing-state thing...

Author Page at the 'Zon
 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

On this rolling ship people either seem to be at one end or the other, or else one little comment and they are labelled as such. As Rhiannon said, 'Where are all the reasoned explanations or arguments?' The press just never stop rocking the boat. 

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Good point from Rhiannon. Too much of everything: too much media, too many fingers in the pie, news-entertainment-opinion, "democracy"-online media comments. It's all going down the plug hole. Have they given that sprog a name yet,

Parson Thru

Submitted by Parson Thru on

The more the message is managed, the further we move from reason. Everything becomes contingent.

Parson Thru

Submitted by bosch on

there is no objective world, as foyan was fond of saying. when one thinks of the pressures, the events that lead one to right wing positions, it's easy to see how they got there (born there in most cases), if not to agree with them. tu fu at the walls of the forbidden city, moving among the destitute who tried to live there, said their suffering is such that it allows me no peace. so, without a political association, compassion, standing against the abuse of those unable to defend themselves, seems a worrthy side to be on. the first step, come to that place, and then plan what it means for your life. 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

A lifetime of research to be had from this comment, bosch. Yes, I'd agree with the lack of an objective world. There are a few ideas or objects we can agree upon, but they're often made by us using human constructs as their blueprint anyway. There are at least as many positions as there are humans and possibly many magnitudes more. I'll leave the filling of the sandwich until I understand it more, but those words of tu fu should mean something for us all. That lack of compassion is the root of most of our troubles. Yes, it does seem worthy.

Parson Thru

Submitted by catherine poarch on

Just seen this. It's great. With a capital G. I loved the borders and warm beer line. I wonder if the used-to-be's are more dangerous than always-have-beens? I'm not sure if there's more manipulation nowadays, thinking of how the Bayeux Tapestry was a P.R. job against dear old Harold! Maybe we're just more aware of it?

 

Submitted by Parson Thru on

Just seen this! Thank you Catherine. Poor old Harold. Pipes are so unfashionable these days. Manipulation and all the other weaknesses are as popular as ever. The most dangerous used-to-be's might be the ones who never were.

Parson Thru