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

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

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

The Dangerous Idea

Tags

Australian poet, Christianity, Jesus Christ, poem, poetry

The Dangerous Idea

How speaks this interfering Jew?
They say his followers are few.
He preaches much as others do.
But love your enemies?…….that’s new!

— D.N. O’Brien

Gingering Off

Tags

Australian poet, Ginger Meggs, Megan Markle, poem, poetry, Prince Harry

𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐟𝐟

Now Ginger Meggs and his dark maid are leaving their relations.
They’re jumping ship, they’re shooting through, abandoning their stations.
They’ve told old Liz, and Phil the Greek — no longer they’ll be royals.
They’ll make hit movies and “write” books, and divvy up the spoils.

— D.N. O’Brien

Invasion Day

Tags

Australia Day, Australia Day protests, Australian poet, Invasion Day, poem, poetry, sonnet, Spenserian sonnet

𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲

Again that loathsome day has rolled around,
And you strap on your armband black as night.
You’ll march upon the stolen sacred ground.
(And you may do this for it is your right.)
No storm-troopers will put your crowd to flight,
For the invader was enlightened man.
And you may prod him but he will not fight,
And neither will he seek to crush or ban.
And did he make mistakes? Well all men can.
But also he did good — so what instead?
Invaders mad and cruel? You seek to fan
Extinguished fire — the actors are long dead.
Yet you are bitter — shackled to the past.
While most give thanks, your flag flies at half mast.

— D.N. O’Brien

China Syndrome

Tags

Australian poet, China Syndrome, Gravy train, poem, poetry, Triolet

China Syndrome

Just listen carefully and I’ll explain.
The Chinese are our slaves — they make our things.
We feed them iron ore and gas and grain.
Just listen carefully and I’ll explain.
The Chinese fill our Hell-bound gravy train
With all the stuff we need for our wing-dings.
Just listen carefully and I’ll explain.
The Chinese are our slaves — they make our things.

— D.N. O’Brien