True Civilisation

rebellion_in_sanity

The Judge said:

"In honour of true civilisation,

the death penalty hereby

stands abolished."

 

The crowd cheered in the streets.

Activists claimed victory.

 

Subzero temperatures—

snow fell through the night.

The morning newspaper

carried a small item:

how many had died

while sleeping rough.

 

They slept rough—

now in a dignified sleep,

on the morgue’s shelves.

 

Silent pronoucement of death

on the poor-

isn't it civilisation's true essence?

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Comments +

Comments5

  • sorenbarrett

    Ah we hide behind definitions but our morals are self evident. The life we value is that that affects ours. A most thought provoking poem and for that a fave

    • rebellion_in_sanity

      Please accept my thanks for the fave and kind words. Appreciate your guidance and support 🙏

      • sorenbarrett

        You are most welcome but to guide one must be in the front and I don't consider myself as leading

        • rebellion_in_sanity

          I pick up clues from your observations. Thank you 🙏

          • sorenbarrett

            You are most welcome my friend

          • arqios

            Penalised not by criminal justice but by omission of justice. Powerful.

            • rebellion_in_sanity

              Thank you very much for your read and your comments. I find your summerisation exemplary. The absence of justice- is it the norm or an aberration? In my experience it had seemed so far that poverty is a strong determinant.
              Appreciate your support 🙏

              • arqios

                Likewise, thank you kindly🙏🏻🕊️

              • 🐤s.zaynab.kamoonpuri🌷🐦😽

                Hardhitting poem with lots to ponder. Kudos!!

                Plz also read and comment on my newest poem

              • Doggerel Dave

                Could be resolved overnight. but is the result of political inaction. Or as a very well known poet here would have it, "Politicians kill more people per year than than drugs, alcohol, malaria and great white sharks"

                The redefinition of 'civilisation' really nailed it Many thanks

                • rebellion_in_sanity

                  Thank you very much. Deeply appreciate your support 🙏

                • Tristan Robert Lange

                  My friend… the way you move from celebration to the cold streets… from headlines to morgue drawers… it’s spare and brutally human. You hold a mirror up without preaching.Very strong piece. 🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦‍⬛



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