Who wore the hat of Roman kind
led armies of the blind in Laos
Vietnam and Cambodia?
Then who challenged the just
anointed crown in Britannica
Planted bomb to burn the people
left their blood in burnt ash sites
public places, shops, and schools
messaging by video their sacrifice?
Uniformed of working clothes
black gowned and turbaned white
they respect no Emperor’s head.
Nameless, they speak explosively
by smart phone, gun, and Semtex
radicalising, inciting, recruiting
armies of face hidden eunuchs
chanting plainsong as God warriors
denying democracy, demanding power.
Some inoffensive men of peace
who in their techno clean rooms
for the greater good did feast
and cause nameless germs grow
to combat Sino-German eagles
and their poppy seeded mint
which reigned under Roosevelt,
grew under Eisenhower
flowered for Kennedy and
re-birthed with Bush and Blair
in Israel, Lebanon and Iraq
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The harvest of butterfat years
when Knox was an ever open
welcome door to inward goods.
-TONY ASHENDEN
Tony is a seasoned traveller; a computer analyst, seaman, shaman, and a complementary alternative therapist. He is a writer of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. In his own words – Life is real only then when I am. Please visit his blog Mine Quick Voice of Aquarius to read more of his work.
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Chewers & Masticadores // Editora: Nolcha Fox 
Tony’s poetry lays bare the faceless and nameless who claim to fight in the support of their beliefs and rigidities. First, pawns played by the superpowers, then threats targeting those who birthed them, violating the world as they deem fit. This radicalism and political warfare are terminal illnesses in themselves. Who bows to whom and where is that sane voice of reason? Greed, hatred, and power never can have their fill.
Congratulations Tony!
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Hi Terveen, thank you for your insightful analysis. Sadly, the world is ever thus!
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So much sad truth spoken here. A lovely piece to make us take a minute and look at our past and some of the horrors that have been the cost of said actions. Blessings and big hugs, Joni
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Thank you Joni, and would you believe it, I write a lot of love poetry!
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