Silence Exile and Crumpets

Wait for the sharpened axe, the silken rope.
Tidy your desk, update and sign your will
Count each sand second. Always knew the bill
Arrives brown envelope. No end to hope
Some cheque is in the mail. That email said
That you'd be paid quite soon. It's what your owed.
And death is riding on Samarra road
His horse will stop and death will nod skull head
And pass the reins. Does pale horse eat ghost straw?
You search the answer google it for hours
Three kittens rolling in a bed of flowers
Time almost up we thought we would get more.
Every last second brings one more last thing.
Perhaps he'll die. Perhaps death's horse will sing.

TRUESONG for Coming Out Day

Voice unsupported is the strained true song
Whose sharp note is the sweetest. Harmonize
Beyond the notes we hear. Protective lies
Rhyme in the lyric. Cadence proves them wrong
Until the cadence changes, Dying fall
That chooses life alters the minor key
Triumphs the major. I that is now we.
They may hurt me. They cannot kill us all.
You tell the truth your closest sort of knew.
Most closet doors have slats that let in light
And if they hate you as indeed they might
Sad is the lilac made of pink and blue
Song you learn notes that ring enjoy and praise
Come out as rich and strange so many days.

JAGGERY REHEARSES

Compile from imperfection. Buzz and whir.
The bass strings hover like a blue green fly
Infectionate is sapphire. This is why
They play as group. Viola bows a slur
A drawl of bittersweet to complement
Voice leaps to chaos art the lyrics mean
Keyboard and drums sweet order in between.
The engine pulses. Time is held then bent
Then twisted true but never as before
Rehearsal a discussion word and sound
Arguing beauties not there until found
Nine voices talking when the head count's four.
I write in silence as an audience
Performing too but in a different sense

The briars round her are the needle's twin
That hurt her. Roses like those in her cheeks
As many as the hours and days and weeks
Of expiation for her parents' sins

The invitations that were never sent.
The evil fairy's trivial concern
Moon waxs wanes. Swift rushing seasons turn.
And was her stillness an emolient

To evil fairy's feelings? Not at all.
No blood no pain no panic. Not a snore
She threw the curse and she expected more.
Such disappointments come eventual
To all whom malice gives a dreaming hope
Never enough of anything but rope.

As people know, I received my ballot in the Labour Party leadership election and voted rather late, on the 14th, after a series of complaints, in the course of which I was told that a large batch had been meant to go out on 24th August and that there had been a glitch. On the 17th, I received a letter dated the 16th which said that I had been suspended from the Labour Party, and my vote disallowed, on the basis of abuse contrary to the rules which I had committed on 6th May and 3rd December as well as on other dates. Thanks to the kind offices of Jane Carnall, I have looked at my political tweets for those days and am mystified as to how I have committed abuse within the meaning of the rule book ie sexism and racism, and foul language.

On the 6th of May I said ‘Imagine what Labour's results in England would have been without constant plots and bitching’. On the 3rd December I was primarily involved in defending the freedom of speech of Labour Party members in the aftermath of the Syria vote, sometimes in direct dialogue with Tom Watson and Andy Burnham. The only conceivably relevant tweets are these : ‘ Earlier I referred to Hilary Benn as a lickspittle running dog of colonialism ad imperialism. I did not, of course, intend to hurt his feels ‘ and ‘ I don't especially want to swear at MPs. I will fight for the right to swear at MPs because I wish to retain the right to use biting sarcasm ‘. A few days earlier I had said that the right to say ‘fuck off’ to Tom Watson was an important right and in reference to his vote and how disgusting I thought it, I told him that he could get me expelled if he didn’t like it. And that’s it – a discussion of the role ot swearing and other forms of strong language in political discourse as a vent for strong views about mass murder as policy.

I don’t swear on line regularly myself – you are more likely to find the word ‘fuck’ in my poems than in my tweets. In any case, the occasion on which Jess Phillips publicly told Diane Abbott to fuck off and boasted of having done so is pretty clear evidence that those particular words are not a disciplinary offence in the Labour Party, so foul language has to be very foul to qualify as abuse.

I didn't use the words 'fuck off' on 3rd December but my dialogue with Tom Watson would have linked to the tweet a few days earlier in which I did talk of 'the right to say fuck off to Tom Watson', which is not abuse, but a discussion of the right of free speech and its limits. That would be enough for a bot to pick up.

‘Lickspittle running dog’ is Maoist phraseology rather than foul language and is any case something I would never use entirely seriously – it’s what I said about Hilary Benn when very angry but even then it is hard to see how, though rude, it contravenes the rules. More generally, if in the heat of the moment I were to use language that could be construed as racist or sexist, which is highly unlikely, my friends would point this out to me.

I am deeply offended at my suspension and the claim that I have done something wrong. I have, however, a theory as to how it happened, a very worrying theory.

It’s hard to see how even with a lot of volunteers and staff working full time on it, the Labour Party could have managed to suspend so many people in so short a time – a record number in Labour history, I would guess, even given the rise of social media – without automating the process with bots and algorithms.

I think I have been suspended for the word ‘bitching’ which is not racist or sexist but which contains the word ‘bitch’ which is sexist. A really useless bot would pick it up and not notice the letters round it. I think furthermore that this is a plausible explanation of why so many people who have been suspended cannot imagine what they have been suspended for – no-one is doing proper quality control on bots which are primed to search for a variety of words, and do not notice when those words are syllables in larger words or if they are being used ironically, in quotation marks and in very specific contexts.

Iain McNicols is a very intelligent man and must be aware that this is happening, and I am forced to conclude that he knows and does not care. Another strong indicator as to his motives is that he has chosen to interpret the rules as meaning that anyone accused of abuse should be suspended without further ado and any investigation of the accusation deferred until after the leadership election and the conference. That decision is clearly motivated by bias – it is also the jurisprudence of the Queen of Hearts - ‘Verdict First, Trial Afterwards’ rather than anything which belongs in a democratic organization. It is a disgrace that the ‘Corbyn’s supporters are vile abusers’ narrative has become so prevalent that liberal commentators are not outraged by this, even without it’s being proved that the accusations are not personal denunciations but based on algorithms and bots.

It’s rather worrying that the pattern of late receipt of votes, endless complaints, arrival of votes, instant suspension of membership for alleged abuse, is not limited to me but appears to be widespread.

It is also hard to see how so many people are going to get due process on the investigation and appeals procedure this side of the next General election.

It is also rather worrying that the form letter that comes out informing people of suspension tells us that we have been denounced. This creates a poisonous atmosphere both locally and, in the case of those of us who are public figures for various reasons, professionally – if in fact the denunciation has come from a piece of code rather than a person, that is particularly irresponsible of the Compliance Unit.

Further, the use of bots to decide guilt or innocence is a worrying precedent. Imagine what a totalitarian government could do with it – imagine what a government department like the DWP may be doing with it as we speak.

Cardinal Richelieu said that seven honest words were enough to find some basis to hang a man. Iain McNicol has surpassed him.

And my vote in the election of the leader has been disallowed. The allegation is that one of my tweets on 6th May and another on the 3rd December is abusive...There are two tweets on May 6th - one saying that Labour would be doing better in polls without bitching and plotting and the other accusing the Tories of election expense fraud.

These are my tweets for December 2nd and 3rd - robust language to be sure, but abuse?

4

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Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

There is NO WAY to abolish online anonymity that does not put a lot of vulnerable people in danger of life and sanity.
11 retweets 12 likes

Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

Earlier I referred to Hilary Benn as a lickspittle running dog of colonialism ad imperialism. I did not, of course, intend to hurt his feels
5 retweets 8 likes
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Roz Kaveney
@RozKaveney

Novelist, poet, critic, activist, trans woman, Londoner, sentimentalist, radical, somewhat disliked by various silly people.

London • rozk.livejournal.com
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

Syrians are dying and we're discussing whether Alex Salmond made a remark that was tasteless.
4 retweets 7 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

The Mirror are running a poll for Benn as Labour Leader. So far 91% against. Let's make it 99%.
6 retweets 3 likes
In reply to Lee Weissman
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

@JihadiJew But most people with religion and/or MH issues don't shoot people. That would be people with guns.
0 retweets 0 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

I don't especially want to swear at MPs. I will fight for the right to swear at MPs because I wish to retain the right to use biting sarcasm
0 retweets 3 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

Roz Kaveney Retweeted Sabine

I use my own name precisely because I have some minor privilege to withstand it. A public voice and friends.

Roz Kaveney added,
Sabine @ThatSabineGirl
@revmagdalen @RozKaveney Harassment and abuse happens under people's real names too, on places like Facebook.
0 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

Roz Kaveney Retweeted Dorothy Snarker

Oh FMS this is awesome.

Roz Kaveney added,
Dorothy Snarker @dorothysnarker
Lena Headey in a suit. This is not a drill. #lesbianbatsignal http://dorothysurrenders.blogspot.com/2015/12/gender-fuck-thursday-lena-headey-edition.html?m=0 …
2 retweets 2 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

To quote a figure I mostly destest - I will fight fight and fight again to save the party I somehow still manage to love.
0 retweets 2 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

I am now back to stay - somewhat to the Left of where I used to be. You can pry my Labour membership only from my cold dead fingers now.
0 retweets 4 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

I resigned from the Labour party over Gulf Part one, the abolition of Clause 4 and Ed Milliband's capitulation to a centrist narrative.
0 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

@andyburnham Social media are playing field where the vulnerable and abused have some chance of hitting back.
0 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

Online anonymity - and I speak as someone often harrassed - is more important than the hurt feelings of MPs.
11 retweets 10 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

Online anonymity helps people blowing whistles in tyrannies; it helps battered wives; it helps LGBT teens with bigoted parents.
13 retweets 13 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

@andyburnhammp Friends who have been subjected to staggering vileness on Twitter, simply hand their account to friends for a few days to run
0 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

@andyburnhammp As someone who gets a lot of abuse on Twitter, I use the block and mute buttons regularly. Hence my vast calm.
0 retweets 1 like
In reply to Zoe-Marie Rogers
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

@ZoeMarieRogers @andyburnhammp MPs use language like scrounger in speeches which people find staggeringly offensive - will that be policed?
0 retweets 0 likes
In reply to Zoe-Marie Rogers
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

@ZoeMarieRogers @andyburnhammp I have been told that I on occasion make people wish they were dead by being icily polite to them.
0 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

Momentum should not be all about personal attacks on individuals. As an individual I outsource my personal attacks to nobody else.
1 retweet 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

@andyburnhammp wants a code of conduct for social media. Perhaps he thinks we should all dress up in a school uniform before we tweet.
6 retweets 6 likes
In reply to Alex Gabriel
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

@AlexGabriel It kept the narrative on the issue of bombing Syria not his leadership.
0 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

Polly Toynbee believes Labour should vote for war to be serious.That's pretty much journalists demanding blood sacrifice as sign of respect
5 retweets 6 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

How much do MPS know and not say about each other's crimes? Maybe they need to be honest.
0 retweets 1 like
In reply to Tom Holland
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

@holland_tom @tom_watson It depends where you live. Churchill's name is mud in Wales and India. And Iraq.
3 retweets 1 like
In reply to Tom Holland
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

@holland_tom @tom_watson Politicians are remembered for the worst thing they did, not the best.
1 retweet 1 like
In reply to Tom Watson ☀️
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

@tom_watson You will recall that Byron wrote a poem about urinating on Castlereagh's grave. Poets are not nice.
0 retweets 4 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

@tom_watson And if you don't like it you can expel me. You were wrong to vote for bombing.
0 retweets 4 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

Roz Kaveney Retweeted Jeremy Corbyn MP

And you were the conscience of the country.

Roz Kaveney added,
Jeremy Corbyn MP @jeremycorbyn
In 7 days 5 million Brits change their minds on Syrian airstrikes. Concerned citizens or terrorist sympathisers?
2 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

Noisy campaigns for deslection will be represented as vindictive bullying rather than democratic accountability. Don't talk about it. Do it.
8 retweets 9 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

I would suggest to Left Unity that, if deselection is an option, it should not be loud.
0 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 3 Dec 2015

Cameron did not need Labour votes. He solicited them in order to foment civil war in Labour and the pro-war faction rushed to comply.
13 retweets 6 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

I am so relieved that my MP did not vote for bombing.
1 retweet 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

My poem for the 67 Labour MPs http://rozk.livejournal.com/532674.html I am too sick at heart to write well, and yet sometimes you have to write something.
1 retweet 3 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

This time I am not resigning from the Labour Party. I am staying to fight these war-mongers/
8 retweets 20 likes
In reply to Jane
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

@janeyotweets @UKLabour We knew a lot of the Blairite dead wood were still there. Now we know how much worse they are.
0 retweets 1 like
In reply to Patrick Strudwick
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

@PatrickStrud We have always been in for attacks whichever way it went, I fear.
0 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Roz Kaveney Retweeted David Davis MP

I don't usually retweet Tories bvut everything he says is right.

Roz Kaveney added,
David Davis MP @DavidDavisMP
(1/5) The arguments of those saying 'doing something in #Syria is better than nothing' are false. Nobody is arguing for doing nothing
5 retweets 10 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Roz Kaveney Retweeted Mark Steel

I hope they all see dead children in their dreams.

Roz Kaveney added,
Mark Steel @mrmarksteel
To be fair, MPs who voted for bombing assured us they 'didn't take the decision lightly'. None of them said 'I don't care so rolled a dice'.
5 retweets 5 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Roz Kaveney Retweeted

No maybe about it. https://twitter.com/juliahobsbawm/status/672182742180888578 …

Roz Kaveney added,
This Tweet is unavailable.
0 retweets 2 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Dear Hilary Benn, if the Spectator is praising your oratory, you can be absolutely sure that you have done a really wrong thing.
39 retweets 41 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Roz Kaveney Retweeted BBC Parliament

That we care as much about brown Syrian children as we do about white black and brown British ones.

Roz Kaveney added,
BBC Parliament @BBCParliament
On Paris attacks @hilarybennmp "they could have been our children... if we do not act what message will that send?"
18 retweets 7 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Roz Kaveney Retweeted Anya

I won't even consider his issues.

Roz Kaveney added,
Anya @fancie18
@RozKaveney @sarahluv81 he should remember his Father's stand on Iraq
0 retweets 0 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Roz Kaveney Retweeted Steve Battlemuch

To screw Corbyn for humiliating her leadership bid presumably.

Roz Kaveney added,
Steve Battlemuch @Battlemuch4WW
Strange speech from @YvetteCooperMP - going to vote for bombing but states Cameron's strategy is wrong. Why then vote for it?
11 retweets 9 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Roz Kaveney Retweeted Bonnie Greer

Maybe he believes what he said. Maybe.

Roz Kaveney added,
Bonnie Greer @Bonn1eGreer
#HilaryBenn made a very good and strong speech- in favour of the wrong policy.
This day is sad beyond measure.
#SyriaDebate…
0 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Yes Hilary Benn. Fight Daesh Fascism with the Saudis, Al Qaeda, Erdogan and Putin as your allies.
5 retweets 6 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Hilary Benn compares bombing Syria to the International Brigades. Their actual equivalent is the Kurdish woman jailed for trying to fight.
4 retweets 5 likes
In reply to artsyhonker/Kathryn
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

@artsyhonker You're right. He hasn't endorsed bombing without other actions but hasn't explicitly said that w/o them it ceases to be just.
0 retweets 0 likes
In reply to artsyhonker/Kathryn
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

@artsyhonker I find his position equivocal. One of the requirements of Just War is that you have a clear and achievable objective.
0 retweets 1 like
In reply to artsyhonker/Kathryn
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

@artsyhonker @JustinWelby Cameron won't do ANY of those other things in practice especially not the refugee stuff.
0 retweets 0 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

I won't say anything about the LibDem decision to vote for bombing if friends don't talk about Labour bombers. We all have crosses to bear
0 retweets 3 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

The crucial way to counter Daesh/ISIL is to be generous with refugees.
5 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

This is clearl relevant to stopping them.
0 retweets 0 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

@NickCohen4 I don't want to abuse or harass MPs who vote for bombing Syria - is there an etiquette manual that indicates how rude I may be?
0 retweets 0 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

If Putin goes on revealing this much dirt on Erdogan https://www.rt.com/news/324252-russian-military-news-briefing/#.Vl75p6ErV04.twitter … presumably Erdogan will repay in kind.Popcorn time.
0 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

The UN has not authorized bombing - the UN has authorised 'concerted action' which might mean sending Daesh a joint Christmas card.
0 retweets 2 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

An amplification MORE JARVIS BOLLOCKS
0 retweets 0 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

So the US is putting more boots on the ground in Syria and Iraq? Will Cameron come back next week asking to do the same?
0 retweets 0 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

If the British public has changed its mind about bombing Syria in a week, isn't that evidence that Corbyn is rather a good communicator?
0 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Roz Kaveney Retweeted Another Angry Woman

Crybabies.

Roz Kaveney added,
Another Angry Woman @stavvers
hello i am a mp plx do not contact me or hold me accountable in any way or protest my murderous decisions bc thats abuse waaaaaa
0 retweets 1 like
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Why I think Dan Jarvis is wrong
2 retweets 0 likes
In reply to Mike Scott
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

@DrPlokta Which is why it is important to put pressure on Labour MPs right down to the wire.
0 retweets 0 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Prediction of a clear majority for Cameron in news bulletins. Is that actually the case?
0 retweets 0 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

No mention of the scepticism of the Tory dominated Foreign Affairs committee.
1 retweet 0 likes
Roz Kaveney ‏@RozKaveney 2 Dec 2015

Worrying extent to which the Today programme is presenting the Government case for bombing uncritically.
3 retweets 0 likes

PATRIARCHS

Old men that hate young women. Cut their joy
With fester knives or stitch them close with thread
Blood pus and dripping piss. In their grey head
Single green thought. All pleasures cloy

When old save this of taking lust away
Itches their aching thigh. World could be white
If noone sweated moan yearned in the night
Only get children. Cook. Kneel. Sew. Clean. Pray.
But never priest it. Grumble in their beard.
Their will is mocked elsewhere where unclothed dance
Twine kiss stroke touch unthinkable romance
Abominations if they are not feared.
Steal goddess' gifts and all that's not nailed down.
Sworn to God's service and the devil's clown.

MARILYN

Brass notes in hair and voice rich honey sweet
A steel conviction to the perfect scene
Over and over gold poured onto screen
Into burst hourglass. Those tortured feet

In shoes that thrust her forwards breasts and loin
Carved as the perfect dish and wrapped in foil
Take her and eat it later. She is loyal
To lovers who betray whose love is coin

Turns fairy leaves. Yes yes repeated yes
Caught in the moment love that made her art
Out of deep feeling over over start
Methodical. The pains to curse and bless

And break. Treasure each moment that we've got.
Misfits and Diamonds. And Some Like It Hot

HOUSMAN'S FRIEND

A man so loved so easily admired
A leopard stroked her ribs against the bars
That furtip might reach fingers: like small stars
Electrostatic brightness. So desired
Thundered across their paddocks wildebeest
Brindled and widehorned buffalo and gnu
Did this for him but not for me or you
You'd think we'd get a soulful gaze at least
From big brown eyes. The tallest male giraffe
Would lick his parting, first lift off his hat
And drop. So loved was Prof John Arthur Platt.
It was recorded in a photograph
Embarrassing? Asked, he admìted, quite.
He only smiled at beasts to be polite.

COVER VERSION for Amanda

Make it your own once more and make it new
That once was his or hers. Perhaps they're dead.
You hear their voice competing in your head
And love and honour. And you tear down too

That you can recreate. When I translate
Changing the language helps though in a mist
Of not quite yet the word. Funambulist
Trapeze tight walking taking what was great

Real time inventing yours a harder part
Getting what's loved each time both first and right
Performance knife you tread cut feet each night
Both yours and mine not greatest hardest art

Submit our music to another's voice
We sing out proud and humble in this choice.

ISLE OF THE DEAD after Bocklin

Ruins so old that cypresses a grove
have grown. The island was not always there
the water rose around it. Stone scoured bare
of signs and busy windows. Some force stove
and sheared the sides away. A city stood
this is the last. One day it will be gone
under the cloud sea. Somewhere there is sun
but it does not shine here. Dark in the wood
some shrine in which veils serve the last faint god
but hardly worship. Hope's gone. Millions trod
streets hundred feet below. The bad the good
dust sea-dissolved in foam. It's here the last boat rowed
last coffin corpse. We reaped the death we owed.

Halfcut we stagger. Blood storm in our eyes
hair slick and stinking. Something in our hand
we did not seize. The trumpet snarling of that band
raucous tears ears. Charged each of us denies

we were involved. There is no alibi
clears history. Our race our sex our class
some boy we liked who patted our firm arse
was monster later. Sometime you or I

accused and guilty. Also innocent
process our trial. All of us arraign
each other, point the finger for our pain.
We love we hate but mostly we resent

times we cannot escape because alive
some piece of work we do may yet survive.