Since royal England had her nose bloodied
by her first colony during her 43rd war –
which we know to be dubya dubya one,
She has worked overtime, and overseas,
to tamp the poet’s fire, whether Irish or not,
until obedience to kings has been restored.
She perfected the Poet’s Noose during
her Crimean war; so pinched by the lariat
of laurels he wore, Lord Tennyson made
Sound heroic all commoners who ride,
on royal orders, into the valley of death.
We, the people, must forever reason why –
or decorate our caves with human hide.
Dave Read