… The Parrot and the Lie
This stanza was written late on the night of January 30th, when the Commons debated a series of amendments, at least one of which might have resulted in Parliament wresting control of the Brexit process from May’s Tory government. That result failed to materialise.
Instead, the Tories enjoyed some rare moments of apparent unity. They came together around a puerile… continue reading
Plain Words from the Cage
The balloons are a Bristol image, since hot-air balloons often appear above the city. I ought to say, though, that whatever fills the Bristol balloons does not appear to be foul.… continue reading
Jez Labours
Did the young see Jez aright ? Or, in their disillusion with the status quo, were they projecting all their hope onto a blank screen, seeing Jez wrongly as somehow an answer, seeing colour on the screen, which is actually not there ? For Jez is not very colourful.
And perhaps he needs that status quo which has so betrayed… continue reading
Maybot in Harness
Headline in “The Guardian” January 21st : “May claims EU second referendum would threaten ‘social cohesion’ ”… continue reading
… Cage Alight
We in Britain are groping about in a strange country, which just happens to be our own. What next ? Where next ? And what has just occured ? Two days ago, May’s deal was voted down by an enormous margin. Yesterday, she survived (not by that much) a vote of no confidence. Has anything changed ? Has anything really… continue reading
The Gods at War, Following a Murder
May’s “deal” was voted down last night after the heaviest governmental defeat in history. Released from the ghastly, grinding and disgraceful progress of her inadequate deal, are we freer now to resolve things a reparative way, or will the hopeless nonsense of this poisonous issue merely change its shape, and muliply its warring elements ?… continue reading
Maybot’s Standing
This stanza was written on a Monday morning, after “The Guardian” quoted a speech Theresa May is due to make today. It includes this sentence : “I ask MPs to consider the consequences of their actions on the faith of the British people in our democracy.” Tomorrow her “deal” is expected to be voted down in the Commons.… continue reading
Parrot at the Breach
The first line is a direct quote from Skelton’s poem “Speak, Parrot”… continue reading