Feelings

Tags

Australian poet, Emotional fragility, Feelings, Formal poetry, poem, poetry, Triolet

𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

You’ve empathy for them? Hey man that’s great!
But don’t let fragile feelings take the wheel —
Between fiction and fact discriminate.
You’ve empathy for them? Hey man that’s great!
But best reality you contemplate,
For reason keeps one on an even keel.
You’ve empathy for them? Hey man that’s great!
But don’t let fragile feelings take the wheel.

— D.N. O’Brien

Keeping Safe

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Australian poet, castle keep, Covid-19 lock-down, Formal poetry, poem, poetry, Triolet

𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞

The enemy has breached our flimsy walls!
Don’t worry we are locked up in the keep.
From high above a startled sentry calls:
The enemy has breached our flimsy walls!
(And unlike us the enemy has balls.)
Our minders tell us to go back to sleep.
The enemy has breached our flimsy walls!
Don’t worry we are locked up in the keep.

— D.N. O’Brien

Anthem(s) Protocol

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Australian poet, national anthems, NFL to play black anthem first, poem, poetry, racism, segregation, Triolet

𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦(𝐬) 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥

The black anthem must be the first one played,
And then the other one, (and take the knee.)
Since segregationists must be obeyed,
The black anthem must be the first one played.
(Past memories of the old tune will fade;
Then it will be replaced — do we agree?)
The black anthem must be the first one played,
And then the other one, (and take the knee.)

— D.N. O’Brien

Aboriginals

Tags

aboriginals, Australian poet, Common origins, Out of Africa, poem, poetry, Triolet

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬

We all came out of Africa, they say;
We share this aboriginality.
No matter where we live and breathe today,
We all came out of Africa, they say.
And wandering has always been our way —
Our forebears ventured over land and sea.
We all came out of Africa, they say;
We share this aboriginality.

— D.N. O’Brien

Extreme Wokeness

Tags

Australian poet, Formal poetry, hypocrisy, poem, poetry, Triolet, U.S. riots 2020, Wokeness

𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

I see that you support the Marxist mob;
I envy you — you are so very woke.
While I assumed you were a well-heeled snob,
I see that you support the Marxist mob.
Encourage them to burn and loot and rob.
Watch thoughtfully while wealth goes up in smoke.
I see that you support the Marxist mob;
I envy you — you are so very woke.

— D.N. O’Brien

Ares

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Ancient Greece, Ancient Greek Gods, Ares, Australian poet, God of War, Iliad, Mars, poem, poetry, Triolet

𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐬

The hated god was Ares, god of war;
For ancient Grecian parents loved their sons.
They perished on the battlefields, therefore,
The hated god was Ares, god of war.
Those ancient battlefields were strewn with gore,
And often Greek boys were the slaughtered ones.
The hated god was Ares, god of war.
For ancient Grecian parents loved their sons.

— D.N. O’Brien

Blighted Bounty

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Australian poet, Irish Famine, poem, poetry, Triolet, Victim mentality

𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲

My ancestors were Irish and oppressed;
Yes, I’m a famine victim by descent.
I’m doing fairly well, so who’d have guessed
My ancestors were Irish and oppressed?
Until I’m compensated I’ll not rest —
Until I’m richly paid I’ll not relent.
My ancestors were Irish and oppressed;
Yes, I’m a famine victim by descent.

— D.N. O’Brien

Useful Idiots

Tags

Australian poet, poem, poetry, Triolet, U.S. riots 2020

𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐈𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐭𝐬

The city burns — the idiots applaud;
Their virtue signalling is plain to see.
As fuel upon the raging flames is poured,
The city burns — the idiots applaud.
Their safety from such mayhem is assured,
For they’re as far from it as they can be.
The city burns — the idiots applaud;
Their virtue signalling is plain to see.

— D.N. O’Brien

A̶r̶s̶o̶n̶i̶s̶t̶s̶ Protesters

Tags

Australian poet, poem, poetry, Triolet, U.S. riots 2020

A̶r̶s̶o̶n̶i̶s̶t̶s̶ Protesters

We are not arsonists, we must protest!
Oh damn, another building up in flames!
A squad car just exploded — who’d have guessed?
We are not arsonists, we must protest!
And we’re not anarchists! Give it a rest!
So stop harassing us and taking names!
We are not arsonists, we must protest!
Oh damn, another building up in flames!

— D.N. O’Brien

A Real Plague

Tags

Australian poet, Grim reaper, Plague, plague doctors, poem, poetry, scythe, Triolet, WuFlu crisis

𝕬 𝕽𝖊𝖆𝖑 𝕻𝖑𝖆𝖌𝖚𝖊

The plague has passed; the reaper’s scythe is sheathed!
Though half the people lie beneath the loam.
If doctors of the plague can be believed,
The plague has passed; the reaper’s scythe is sheathed.
Go to each house and tell the poor bereaved:
(That’s if there is a living soul at home)
The plague has passed; the reaper’s scythe is sheathed!
Though half the people lie beneath the loam.

— D.N. O’Brien