Musical Chairs

Author’s Note: The aftermath of the British General Election, May 7th 2015, when voters chose more austerity, more food banks, and more welfare cuts.

Why do the voters never learn,
And vote for yesterday’s flawed men?
And like the Lemming, oft repeat,
The same old darn mistakes again?
Why do the voters take part in,
This cycle of futility?
Is it because they are hell-bent,
On five years of humility?

Why should our politicians be,
A panacea for all ills?
With their economy of truth,
And never-ending Commons Bills?
What politician can be named,
Who’s rid our world of all its poor?
What government in history,
Can claim to have abolished war?

When full employment is around,
The Chancellor basks in the glow;
But when recession looms its head,
He really doesn’t want to know.
Such failure never is their fault,
Although they tell us frequently;
That they’re the ones in full control,
Of the UK economy.

The Ancient Greeks said ‘Politics’,
Was the Black Art where one invents;
All kinds of lies and gibberish,
Pretending to control events.
It’s like the other Party game,
The one with music and odd chairs;
At least in that game players win,
But voters always lose in theirs.

Richard is a poet and amateur blues harmonica player who lives in the seaside town of Clacton on England's east coast. He's had approximately 70 poems published in England and Wales as well as a number of articles. He can be reached at: richard-layton@zen.co.uk. Read other articles by Richard.