Wednesday 22 December 2010

A force of nature


A force of nature

I never saw a Hurricane ask for permission
or watch a storm edge along the fence line.
In the gathering twilight, as the sea surges,
will we stand at the waters edge and say;
"this far, and no further".

Half a league
half a league
half a league onward.
Half a world sold,
catching up to move forward.

As the rising tide swells to burst,
to dash upon humanity forestalled, and worse,
will we wait in long lines,
rubber stamped to submission,
sheepishly tied to a stake of contrition,
or rise like a force of almighty nature
and crash on the gash of a poxed legislature.

Half a league
half a league
half a league onward.
Half a world sold,
catching up to move forward.

Rage!, Rage against the manacled mendacity,
a forged tempest that sweeps an age aside,
overturned, overwhelmed, over.
Leaving the righteous, and justice behind,
to reside where no liars or greedy can hide.

Half a league
half a league
half a league onward.
Half a world sold,
catching up to move forward.

I never saw a mountain top explode without fire,
or rain upon the land without righteous desire.
Did the north-wind stop at your borders?
or its icy grip slip, as you barked out your orders.
For when that glacial blast tore,
at your heart and your toes,
were there tears in your eyes,
were you stunned where you froze?

Half a league
half a league
half a league onward.
Half a world sold,
catching up to move forward.

I never saw the earth wait for a ticket to rumble,
or fracture on time, or plan the quakes tumble.
When the balance is so out of kilter the law,
is to redress the dynamic stasis and score.
courage, for every generation to come,
courage, for all that has been and was won,
courage, to take up your heart in this fight,
courage, to win back the day from the night.

Half a league
half a league
half a league onward.
All the world sold,
sectioned, cut up, and bordered.

I never saw a Hurricane ask for permission,
or watch a storm edge along the fence line.
did you?

© Richard Michael Parker 2010