“For God and… other Imperial Obscenities”

(A Remembrance (Veterans) Verse for the Sadistic and Perverse)

by T.P. Wilkinson / November 15th, 2015

Lay our destiny
in the sands
that fall:
fired memories
in the kiln
where wondrous
fluid fear and lies
in molten
wedlock
formed.
Senseless anger
spent
for gracious majesty
for generals,
for admirals
for honours
sent
to lechery and larceny
beholden,
molded
in blood and bones
carved by septic sculptors
in shrapnel and in stone.
Preaching
puerile sermons,
Singing
sarcastic hymns
Saluting
sovereigns
with cynical pride
where clerics
bless the corpses
spewed ashore
in each November’s tide.

Dr T.P. Wilkinson writes, teaches History and English, directs theatre and coaches cricket between the cradles of Heine and Saramago. He is author of Unbecoming American: A War Memoir and also Church Clothes, Land, Mission and the End of Apartheid in South Africa. Read other articles by T.P..

This article was posted on Sunday, November 15th, 2015 at 8:04am and is filed under Poetry.