State of Decay

Tags

Australian poet, Decline of the West, democracy, Friedrich Nietzsche, Oswald Spengler, poem, poetry, Triolet

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘆

I fear that Nietzsche may have got it right:
Democracies will decompose to dust.
I read his thoughts, I slept, then woke in fright!
I fear that Nietzsche may have got it right —
His prophecy that that which shone so bright,
Will tarnish over time and turn to rust.
I fear that Nietzsche may have got it right:
Democracies will decompose to dust.

— D.N. O’Brien

Colonists

Tags

Ancient Greek colonies, Australian poet, Colonialism, Formal poetry, poem, poetry, sonnet, Spenserian sonnet

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬

The first ones clustered round the central seas.
From city states the ancient Greeks they came.
On foreign shores they founded colonies,
And to each settlement they gave their name.
They set their sails to conquer and find fame,
To spread Hellenic culture to the Earth;
Barbarians they thought it right to tame,
For their crude ways they thought of lesser worth.
And so of colonies we see the birth —
Of how the thinkers sent abroad their thoughts.
Of how they sought Poseidon’s realms to girth.
These frogs around the ponds no doubt had warts;
But had the Greeks not spread their wisdom wide;
Before their birth — what wonders may have died?

— D.N. O’Brien

Innocent Issues

Tags

Abortion on demand, Australian poet, poem, poetry, sonnet, Spenserian sonnet, Western Decline

Innocent Issues

When have we dropped as far as we can go?
When have we reached the bottom of the well?
When have the western nations sunk so low,
They can but rise, or else descend to Hell.
Is there a warning? Does there ring a bell?
No, but the signs are clear to open eyes —
The crimes committed and the burning smell
Of flesh that is our own, but never cries —
That bursts into the light and quickly dies.
Yet for this damned destruction do we weep?
Oh no, we cloak the crime with smiles and lies.
We gladly sow, then prematurely reap.
We pull from fertile earth the sprouting seeds,
And then discard them, as one would with weeds.

— D.N. O’Brien

Taboo

Tags

Ancient man, australian aboriginal, Australian Aboriginal laws, Australian bush poetry, Australian poet, poem, poetry, sonnet, Spenserian sonnet, Stone age man, Taboo, totems and taboos, Tribal societies

Taboo

You ask me, how on earth did he survive
For many centuries? Well here’s a clue:
For more than needed, never did he strive.
His little wealth he carried, his needs few.
He stuck to the old ways and nothing new
Would he allow. So for thousands of years
He didn’t change — for change it was taboo.
Paralysis by superstitious fears —
This saved him. Round the fire at night wise seers
Would tell the dreamtime myths — his history,
Unquestioned by his trusting eyes and ears.
And thus did he remain fearful, not free.
Bound tight by rigid rules that would not bend,
His world would stay unchanged — else it would end.

— D.N. O’Brien

No Respect on Court

Tags

Australian poet, Australian Tennis Open, John McEnroe, Margaret Court, poem, poetry, Triolet

𝐍𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭

The foul-mouthed McEnroe shows no respect,
And gay old girls support his foolish words.
From such a brat it’s what you would expect —
The foul-mouthed McEnroe shows no respect.
The tennis bosses to him genuflect —
They must display their virtue to the herds.
The foul-mouthed McEnroe shows no respect,
And gay old girls support his foolish words.

— D.N. O’Brien

Emotionists

Tags

Australian poet, limerick, Limerick poem, Limerick poetry, poem, poetry

Emotionists

They’re the ones that democracy dreads,
More than Marxists or other such reds.
They are slaves to emotions,
And misplaced devotions —
They vote with their hearts, not their heads.

— D. N. O’Brien

Trying Hard

Tags

Australian poet, poem, poetry, Same-sex marriage, Triolet

Trying Hard

The same-sex couple just recently wed,
Are trying hard to start a family.
They spend a lot of time tucked up in bed —
The same-sex couple just recently wed.
Some helpful books they have rabidly read —
Followed instructions — now they wait and see.
The same-sex couple just recently wed,
Are trying hard to start a family.

— D.N. O’Brien

Party Politics

Tags

Australian poet, Party Politics, poem, poetry, Triolet

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀

The men are talking politics again.
The women (most of them) are looking bored.
Pissed off, they are — it’s not surprising when
The men are talking politics again.
While women, we are told, are just like men,
Can party observations be ignored?
The men are talking politics again.
The women (most of them) are looking bored.

— D.N. O’Brien

Feet of Flames

Tags

Australian bushfires, Australian Greens, Australian poet, Greens policies make bushfires worse, limerick, Limerick poem, Limerick poetry, poem, poetry, Richard Di Natali

𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬

The party’s in pretty poor shape.
Green leader dons his emerald cape.
He sees rising smoke.
He’s starting to choke.
He dashes down the fire-escape.

— D.N. O’Brien

Greens leader quits

Full Circle

Tags

Australian poet, poem, poetry

𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐥𝐞

Of Philistines it’s now comprised.
It has become what He despised.
Had He not been devoid of sin,
Then in a mortal’s grave He’d spin.

— D.N. O’Brien