Labi Siffre - Into The Light

The ism

It is the ace
Ninety percent embrace
Even down to the self-respectless
"There must be something"

Disappointing that such vacancy adheres
More effectively than facts
To neurons susceptible in their neutrality
No less to malignant infection than virginity is

To rape
An act theologically upheld
By four
Grinning righteously
Naked male apes

___

Birth of an Artist

The family visits The Tate

Through her burqa’ she sees

A reason to change

___

The Tate

___

The Days Shorter The Years Longer

Another young woman murdered; were I
Politician, journalist, officer of the law
I’d add
“Cruelly” or “callously” or some such more
To make it clear how we’re feeling deeply
About this murder of another young woman

Do we want this murder of another young woman

To razor in to burn as a bad
As a terrible horrible happening shredding
Each of us shuddering crying raging
Gratingly bereaved screaming our loss
On camera slam In the wake of another
Woman murdered young

As we view tonight another hit movie
Opening with yet another young woman
Slain, screenplay based on another
Best selling page turner opening with yet
Another young female corpse who alive
Had lived in hope, we're told, and didn't
Die in vain (it’s hoped we believe)

___

Against malignancy

For change benign give aid

To women not men

Girls are women, men are boys

Women spend on children

Men on toys

___

Another Bowl of Slurry From

That Cheeky Charley Heir to the Throne

If it is “precious and sacred” to them
Or you, that is perhaps ok

Though don’t you think female genital
Mutilation, sharia law, the execution of
Apostates (and some other practices)
Should, more than perhaps, demand
A clarion call of “no way!”)

In any event, when anyone attacks
By insisting
Their dishonest and offensive
Claims to "knowledge of god”
Be precious and sacred
To me

I will oppose your
Vacuous regal prose
And them
Vigorously

_source