Controlled

Tags

Australian poet, control, Covid-19 lock-down, Culture of fear, Formal poetry, poem, poetry

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝

A frightened mindset now takes hold —
The narrative has been well-sold,
And counted is the gathered gold.

Though many in the past were bold,
These stronger souls have all grown old,
Or moulder in their graves so cold.

They were cast from a different mould.
They would not yield; they would not fold;
They would not do as they were told.

— D.N. O’Brien

The Frightened Ones

Tags

Australian poet, Culture of fear, Fear, Formal poetry, poem, poetry, sonnet, Spenserian sonnet

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐎𝐧𝐞𝐬

It is the era of the frightened ones —
The trembling terrified who freeze in fright.
They’re terrified of viruses and guns,
And anything that goes bump in the night.
Of snakes and spiders and potato blight.
Of mice and elephants and also bears;
And darkness, one must not turn off the light
When they’re asleep — they’ll be killed in nightmares!
They’re scared of ants and certain plants and hares,
And every type of mole; and humming birds.
They’re scared of circles, rectangles and squares,
And poets who write poems with big words.
They’re scared of clocks and smelly socks and elves.
But what they’re really scared of is……. themselves.

— D.N. O’Brien