We met up with friends in the weekend and were getting all hyped up as green and clean (Ugh , ugh) gorgeous New Zealand has most of its sheep replaced by cows, who have together with all citizens and industry, destroyed all rivers and lakes and soil.
We started talking about guns and we got even more fired up. So I had to pour that in a poem and if anyone feels the need to be defensive especially about the guns than I've got a video for you here. Watch it, and be defensive somewhere else. Excuse moi I don't have time nor tolerance for it. There! I've spoken
When the Sheep Sleep
Like soldiers we march through life,
left, right, left, right — following commands
from invisible forces lurking everywhere.
Whispers intrude, invade the mind:
Be rich, be beautiful, obey your gadgets,
get hypnotized, mobilised,
like sheep to the slaughter
beh, beh, baa, baa, dead silence.
The greedy wolf needs you to feed on,
needs the poor to prop their wealth,
needs pawns sacrificed in their game,
prey to pay for their profit,
sheep who sleep and follow
which one are you?
Sometimes sheep look up
to witness avarice tearing down civility.
Tears trickle in disbelief, tears touch,
yet multi-billion-dollar empires
build power and palaces on this.
Voices linger everywhere:
Get guns, take what you want,
be afraid, be prepared, attack, protect
beh, beh, baa, baa, dead silence.
Sometimes sheep look up
gazing into cash cow eyes,
their waste piercing earth’s halo,
festing the veins of our planet.
But multi-billion-dollar industries
need this to build power and palaces.
Voices linger everywhere:
Buy, borrow, consume, groom,
delight in deceit — just buy and eat
beh, beh, baa, baa, dead silence.
And when the sheep sleep,
the truth breaks the silence,
the shepherd cries as the wolves howl,
wandering a world painted black.
He lifts the veil, calling his sheep
to follow into the light,
onto velvet, weed-free pastures.
Will they follow?
Oh, Marja, this is a favorite of the poems you have written! It is written with such strong feelings. There are wolves howling everywhere. And civility is being torn down everywhere. Too many people marching left, right, left, right. Where will it end. I feel bad about the sheep, Marja. It just isn't right at all!! So much in this world is changing in the wrong direction. But wow - what a poem!!!!
ReplyDeleteI like "when the sheep sleep" and the refrain Be, be, beh, bah, dead-silence.
ReplyDeletePowerful writing........the sheep are beginning to awaken. But the multinationals own everything, we stayed asleep too long. Powerful writing, Marja. Well done.
ReplyDeleteI certainly wouldn't argue with you on this!
ReplyDeletesheep turning into cash cows.. beautifully imagined and powerfully rendered.
ReplyDeleteOuch! Truth.
ReplyDeleteZQ
Cash cows, sleeping sheep, howling wolves: and the shepherd.. powerfully written
ReplyDeleteHi Marja - we certainly need to wake from our sleep ... sadly we tend to just go back into our own little world where we hold sway ... we need to awaken for the common good ... brilliantly written poem - well done - Hilary
ReplyDeleteYour poem depicts a sad reality and it conveys a somewhat militant message: awaken people and stop being obedient sheep! I like that sort of activist writing that calls for awareness and action.
ReplyDeleteOh the metaphor of being sheep... to be waiting for the slaughterhouse... compliant kind, it doesn't matter. At the end we are just balance sheet numbers... and when we can't consume we are led to be slaughter.
ReplyDeletetears trickle in disbelieve, tears touch
ReplyDeletebut the multi-billion-dollar industry
is prerequisite to build power and palaces
Such a tragedy to witness how the seemingly docile sheep industry to be supporting big business in their quest for power and gain! Brilliant write Marja!
Hank
We are all so focused on me and mine there is no thinking about the greater picture.
ReplyDeleteYour poem is good!
ReplyDelete