Peterloo ...

These fawning reptiles - 

This voluptuary, his spite coiled like a sting upon his tongue - 

These magistrates hissing in their cruel courts - 

These mill owners, with their dark coats and relentless machines - 

These curved slicing blades -

This anguish - 

I see it now, as I did in an England of steam and coal - 

The same reptiles - 

The same oily obedience to monsters - 

The same outrageous suffering, still belittled - 

Yet now with I phones - 

Talking heads - 

Sleek jowls before clever screens - 

New lies - 

Old wickedness - 

12 December 2018

The Rex

Wareham 

Dorset