11/1/2007

"Weather (or not)" by Malcolm Rimmer

Humid day,
ambition grey;
not catharsing,
just drag-arsing.

"Promises" by Malcolm Rimmer

"I don't want to fleece you,"
said the shearer to the sheep.
"Nor I to watch you fall,"
said the hangman, noose in hand.
"I'm from the Council and here to help,"
said the man in sober suit.

"Humane Being" by Val Walsh
(Remembering John Hamilton, who died in December 2006)

They called you benign
(as opposed to toxic).
Devoted (as opposed to
egoistic or treacherous).
Humble (neither arrogant
nor weak). Committed always
without doubt or hesitation
to improving the life chances
of the marginal, bypassed,
stigmatised, impoverished:
those counted out by
capitalism’s strictures.

This was a noble man
who listened attentively
to those with and without
position and power,
who sought out and bridged
gaps in understanding
and justice. This quiet man
fought hard: always, as he said,
against the odds.

Education, education, education.
No mere slogan.

People, community:
more than rhetoric.

Health and housing:
affordable not markets.

Quaker and socialist values
in harmony, driving social
and political action.
Reminders of what it takes
to build and maintain
human dignity, bearable lives,
sustainable communities.

Education, education, education.

His was a long life
devoted to the relentless
struggle against poverty,
abuse, corruption and
neglect. A life committed
to shifting power to the
people, reconceiving
(or remembering)
power as service.

At meetings and in conversation
his ‘killer comments’ cut through
obfuscation and denial,
exposing the contortions and
distortions of those seduced
by power and celebrity.

He summarised with eloquence
the idiocies and irresponsibilities
of capitalism’s apologists
and lackeys (left or right,
national or local) without
malice or anger. And with
children, neighbours and activists
alike, his eyes could twinkle wickedly
and you bathed in his warmth and
positive regard of you as a
fellow human being.

Against oppression and
social violation he interposed
love (not glamour), social duty
(not careerism) and compassion
(not competitiveness).

Still cutting edge values
after all these years.

"Trees in Peace" by Val Walsh

We came together as women
To celebrate community
To talk sustainability
Across the gulf of difference.
What we were doing.
What we could do better.

You spoke proudly of forestation.
Of how at your behest
The children planted trees
Around their school.

You described the requirement to
Plant trees as part of creating
A living, sustainable environment.

How many olive branches
Have you buried?

You cited the Jewish Commandment
Not to destroy fruit-bearing trees.
But spoke only of here
Not there.

How many olive branches
Have you buried?

I marvelled at your tree story
Displayed for our approval.
I mourned your refusal
To make connections
Between here and there.

How many olive branches
Have you buried?

Watered with tears
Olive groves laid waste
Will still bear fruit.

Hearts stopped in their tracks
Will continue to beat
Unbidden.

And nothing good
Will grow of this.

"Breathless" by Val Walsh

I can’t breathe where
secular values fade from view:
access to safety
dignity
resources
protection from abuse
in the home
at work
on the street
at war.

I can’t breathe when
secular values
of equality and democracy
unravel before the
‘heroic death’
‘just massacre’
a romantic attachment to
violence
unromantic attitudes to
women
gays
democracy.

I can’t breathe near
laws of submission and obedience
to traditional codes of
masculine power.

I can’t breathe for
the body hatred
the terror of sexuality
borne by religions.

The purity and certainty they prize
maim and
bury us
alive.

Men rote-learning the faith.
Men conditioned by
pornographic consumerism.

Two ends of the same rod
for women and children.