Pages

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Socialist Sonnet No. 119

Tongue Tied

 

Self-appointed people’s tribunes shout

And chant that righteous death be visited

On those proclaimed other, who, it’s said,

Challenge righteous certainties with doubt.

Ernest professed defenders of free speech

Then demand banning of hate words they see

As inimical to democracy:

Language isn’t allowed beyond the law’s reach.

All too readily from good intentions

Voices may be silenced, tongues shackled,

Stopping difficult issues being tackled

Through a malignant state’s intervention.

 But then, advocates for better times to come

Can be confounded, arrested; struck dumb!

 

D. A.

No comments:

Post a Comment