One of The Kennet and Avon’s Musical Stars is the fabulous Angel Nash so it was an absolute privilege to have this fellow Narrowboat Dweller come all the way up to North Wales to perform for us on our home mooring. As many of you will know Angel has been a professional musician most of her life appearing in just about every festival from Glastonbury to Northumbria but still loves the thrill of busking between gigs. Here’s the second beautiful song from this lovely Lady of the Locks, ‘Fight For Wot’s Right’. A song she wrote whilst travelling in Ireland in a Bow Top, Horse Drawn Caravan and is about looking after yourself.
We invented the systems within which you exist, And created the armies where we insist you enlist, Controlling you as our puppets with our cast iron fist, Denying you any chance to persist or resist.
We constructed your illusions laced with afflictions, Built on alcohol and sugar to become your addictions, Which we manufacture in abundance without any restrictions, To manipulate and influence your deepest convictions.
We removed your conscious choice that’s no longer missed, To the point you cannot even remember the gist, Your brainwashed mind is now numb and dismissed, So you follow our rules with no fate you can twist.
Our media and content become your distractions, With materialistic attractions to seduce your perceptions, Spreading infections to increase your prescriptions, While our monopolist board members toast their deceptions.
But deep underground where the masses are contained, Lies an educated minority who feel unrestrained, Driven by overwhelming desire to expose the unexplained, Awakened and aware with their consciousness regained.
No longer are they fooled by the egocentric state, That’s designed to encourage fear and amplify hate, They will start a new slate with no need to dictate, And create their own world in a new twist of fate.
They know the current system cannot be sustained, And those already trapped in it cannot be retrained, For most have sold their soul laying dormant and detained, It’s the next generation who will live their lives unchained.
Unlike their predecessors they will not take the bait, They will revolt and rebel to make our world great, They will build a new paradigm on which all can create, I just hope they awaken before it’s too late.
by John Michaelson~
#writingforchange#poetry#author Message from John – If you would like to read, connect with, or share more of my poetry and prose, I invite you to check out and follow my author page if it feels right for you, where you will find more of my work that I’ve written to date. You are also welcome to follow the #writingforchange hashtag which I use on all my work across my social media channels. Whenever you want to share my poetry, all I ask is that you always respect copyright and kindly acknowledge me as the original author. I always welcome any feedback and comments you want to share on my work, or any questions you have on my plans and aspirations for #writingforchange using the power of words to change our world for the better to help those in need within our local and global communities, one word at a time.
This great poem by the late, very much lamented, poet and political activist Adrian Mitchell can be applied to any of the wars of recent times, whether in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, or the planned war on Iran. Adrian, who was a committed activist in the anti-war movement, repeatedly revised the text, as lies for new wars were trotted out by the likes of George W Bush and Tony Blair. This video shows the celebrated reading Adrian made on 11 June 1965 at London’s Royal Albert Hall, when the Vietnam war was slaughtering millions in the name of “democracy and “freedom”.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN (TELL ME LIES ABOUT VIETNAM)
I was run over by the truth one day. Ever since the accident I’ve walked this way So stick my legs in plaster Tell me lies about Vietnam.
Heard the alarm clock screaming with pain, Couldn’t find myself so I went back to sleep again So fill my ears with silver Stick my legs in plaster Tell me lies about Vietnam.
Every time I shut my eyes all I see is flames. Made a marble phone book and I carved all the names So coat my eyes with butter Fill my ears with silver Stick my legs in plaster Tell me lies about Vietnam.
I smell something burning, hope it’s just my brains. They’re only dropping peppermints and daisy-chains So stuff my nose with garlic Coat my eyes with butter Fill my ears with silver Stick my legs in plaster Tell me lies about Vietnam.
Where were you at the time of the crime? Down by the Cenotaph drinking slime So chain my tongue with whisky Stuff my nose with garlic Coat my eyes with butter Fill my ears with silver Stick my legs in plaster Tell me lies about Vietnam.
I saw a man carrying his young daughter In a frantic run from military danger, Blood all over his dust laden shirt Oozing from his beloved girl in dirt His eyes bulging, he was crying of disaster For she was the little one headless in Gaza.
Like some cheap horror movie she was cut Down by machine gun fire, life turned to dust People scattered as the bombs landed everywhere There was no escape, no protection there. Mothers on their knees cradling a carcass Limbs, head strewn all over the place.
Orders were given to shoot children’s groins The snipers delighted in shattering loins, Yesterday’s order was to shoot children in the head, The shooters fired on children still in their beds. On Tik Tok we saw them singing and dancing As if what they did was, for the IDF, the best thing.
The ghouls of Government in the rogue Israel Made speeches in the Knesset, words from Hell, Calling Gazans human animals ripe for the kill Exterminate the vermin they say in their earnest Death doom and destruction, it’s for the best, Babies entrails unravelled from their breast.
Have you seen heads, arms legs fly in the air? For in the Gaza Strip it is happening everywhere Have you seen rows of tents set ablaze With whole families barbecued inside crazed Have you seen soldiers throwing a party Moments after the carnage, it is far from pretty.
A man grinning from ear to ear announces death I’m wondering how does a man sink to this depth, Netanyahu, born in Warsaw Poland of a Zionist His face creased in a satisfaction kind of bliss His glee obvious to all who can bear to look His aim to cleanse Gaza is like an open book.
I hate those who caused massacres in Nazi Germany Of European Jews, Christians, disabled, so many But I do not hate the German people, not really, I hate the Zionist supremacist killer Israeli For they are slaughtering thousands to pieces But I don’t hate Jewish Israeli people of peace.
Why would a UK politician become a Friend of Israel? Are they bereft of feeling like an empty barren shell Does this friendship include supporting/ arming IDF Or do they question the need for so many cruel deaths What part of Israeli politics are they friends with The Knesset, that echoes with the bloodlust death wish?
The constant parade of TikTok videos made by the IDF As they broadcast crimes against humanity and decency Hundreds of photos and films showing Gazans starving At the behest of the psychotic crazed Israeli politicians, Queues of Belsen look a likes begging for meagre food Fired upon, shot down, lives cruelly ended for good.
The World looks on hapless in horror but frozen As if the Chosen People are superior beings Untouchable by mere underlings worldwide A mighty blow against human rights can’t be denied If a mere 8million population can wreak such havoc What have we in our hearts just crumbling rock.
DISSENTERS VOICE 