The Boat of Life

I pray, infuse my head and heart,
To navigate each journey's start.
The world puts icebergs in my way ;
Would I not heed the things you say ?

The paradox : a world that's yours,
So full of sailors shipping oars -
Not casting off, not raising sails,
Not joining playful broaching whales ;
Not catching breeze, not crossing bars,
Not chasing midnight's ocean stars.

I've suffered landlock long enough :
Allow me love, and my boat - luff.
Stand by me as I take the wheel,
And steer to keep an even keel.

The Bully Boys

We’re all just watching Bashir

As he bashes up his nation.

We televise his fireworks ;

Record the conflagration.

We gave some toys to Saddam

For his sandbox game of war.

‘Till forced to call time on him

When he tampered with the score.

Then we had some grief from Mu-mar

When he came back in the game.

But he undermined his teammates

So they gave him back the same.

Now we’re just ignoring Robert

And his flimsy house of cards.

He’s no threat to our amusements

And he’s not in our backyards.

We’ve had Wilhelm, ‘Dolf, and Josef;

Chairman Mao, Idi, Benito.

From Charles the First to Charles Smith

And Emperor Hirohito.

Plus Papa Doc and Baby Doc

And Nicolae Ceaucescu :

All trampled on the innocent

Whom no-one came to rescue.

Sit back and watch The Bully Boys ;

Observe their selfish games.

Until the light of truth shines forth

From funeral pyres’ flames.