Poetry – Tearing down attitudes

Tearing down attitudes

 

They are tearing down statues

Of racists and slavers,

Pirates and traders,

Which makes me wonder why

Our society needed to raise them so high?

The warmongers and plunderers

Up there in the sky.

 

Why not the poets and writers?

Imagination delighters?

The musicians and dancers?

Emotional romancers?

The artists and comics

And other joy giving iconics.

 

Let’s put Zephaniah up higher!

Have Roy Harper up there

In Trafalgar Square!

People that care!

 

Our culture’s much more

Than exploitation and war!

 

Let’s not just tear down statues

With trite platitudes!

Have a new start – straight from the heart –

And change the attitudes

That affects all our moods.

Attack prejudice and poverty

With words and actions

And do away with

These elitist factions!

 

Let’s build something better!

 

Opher – 14.6.2020