A Walk in the Country
I walked by the river
Where it is usually so quiet and peaceful.
Crazy kids on motorbikes sounded
Like trapped bluebottles in a summer kitchen,
But the January light was still beautiful.
Jackdaws wheeled above with their sharp cries
And there were dead rabbits among the puddles,
Victims of weasels or foxes or who knows what.
Suddenly a jet-fighter ripped the sky open with a loud scream.
A gun went off, some enthusiast shooting
At the jackdaws or rabbits.
Then silence again.
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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An Alcoholic's Dilemma
They said just relax and have a few drinks,
Who cares anyway what your doctor thinks!
And they carried on with their meaningless chatter
As if nothing on earth could possibly matter,
Who cares! What the hell! Just join in the laughter,
The worst you can do is have a hangover after!
You mustn't imagine we're being unkind
(Though we don't give a damn if you're losing your mind)
Don't be a wet blanket, just join in the fun,
Only suckers are sober when the party's begun! !
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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Pharisees
We suppose You think You're clever
The Pharisees all said,
You think You'll live forever,
NOW YOU'RE DEAD! !
Enough of all Your miracles
And the magic You display,
The people are hysterical,
But You have had Your day,
We did not like Your attitude
And the way You blackened our name,
You'll simply have to be crucified -
(Herod will take the blame)
You're just a jumped-up carpenter
Who thinks He's the Son of God,
We'll shatter all Your blasphemy
With Zion's iron rod! !
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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The Terror Through The Wall
While children die of thirst
And dry, distinguished Morris Minors
Dream of silence,
My memory explodes
With a vision of you crying in the rain,
Your grievous bodily charm
Lost in the temples of Java.
You're not the first
To salvage swords from the graveyards of the poor
Or risk your life for eunuchs in the fine cathedrals,
There were others who went before you
Fearing the worst,
Tossing their caution to the wind
And burying their courage
In the dark heart of creative reason.
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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A Monster
When he sees your mild and virginal face
He's filled with thoughts that are such a disgrace
That he really must be some kind of freak
Though he kids himself he's not unique,
You're pure and holy and he wants to defile
Your shy little glance and innocent smile.
He must be a monster deep inside
With lusts and cravings which he's denied,
He certainly not like other men
But thinks of perversions beyond their ken
Till shame compels him to run and hide
Before he's virtually crucified.
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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Lines to a Christian Friend
Go on, throw away that crutch!
You rely on it too much.
Do you want to be a slave
From the cradle to the grave?
Have courage, stand alone!
When you hear the wild winds moan
Don't be afraid, you are a Man,
You'll do the best you can,
Not shivering with fear
But living in the now and here,
Not clinging to your childhood nurse
But facing up to so much worse,
Slaying the dragon of your doubt
Casting all your demons out!
You can do it if you try,
Or would you rather live a lie?
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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A Drinking Song
It goes against my conscience
To drink a lot of wine,
But the wine will take care of my conscience
I've told you time after time!
So I think I'll have a skinful
And drown my mortal pain,
And though you may think me sinful
I'll do it over again!
(I like to sup a glass or two,
It is the drinker's folly,
It stops him being sad and blue,
In fact it makes him jolly!)
So get thee to a nunnery
And curse the demon drink,
A life of wine will suit me fine
Whatever you may think! !
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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A Culture of Greed (The Riots Summer 2011)
Now the English streets are quiet
The lads are hoping for another riot!
What do you do when you can't get a job?
Burn down a supermarket and loot and rob!
Give the community a bit of a scare!
That's what you do when life's not fair.
Blame it on Cameron and Brown and Blair
Everyone knows that none of them care.
Go on, my friend, take what you need,
This is the hour of lawlessness and greed,
What does it matter if a few people die?
I'm bloody well getting my slice of the pie! !
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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A Nasty Situation
Jesus was a carpenter
Who made things out of wood,
He should have stayed a carpenter,
It would have done Him a lot of good,
Instead He started preaching
And making quite a fuss,
So they handed Him over to the Romans
Who nailed Him to a cross.
The trouble with the Pharisees
Is they're Politically Correct,
They exterminate their enemies,
But what did you expect?
The moral of this story
Is stay clean with the Law,
'Cos even if you're the King of Glory
Two plus two makes four!
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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Armageddon's Holy Ape (a Sonnet)
Do you believe in Humankind?
My poor, dear friend, you must be blind!
We're just God's failed experiment
(I'm sure it's not what Jesus meant)
We've ruined earth and sea and sky
And still make war while the creatures die.
It seems too late now to repent;
A soldier trained to shoot and kill
Will tell you this is Allah's will,
The warmongers will not relent!
It is the grammar of the gun
That fills the speech of everyone,
There's no relief and no escape
From Armageddon's Holy Ape.
poem by John Thorkild Ellison
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