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I
have decided to take no prisoners
for a series of studies in ambivalence
it's
come to this
it
was a long time coming
I
have decided
to
take no prisoners
feels
so good to say it at last
life's
short
reality
is grim
I
have decided
to
take no more
I
have decided
(it
has been decided)
to
take steps to limit
the
increase in the prison population
(my
people put away)
to
initiate measures
ameliorating
the pressures (various)
the
upward pressures leading to incarceration
I
have decided
to
take more than I have already taken
to
take fewer prisoners at least
I
make no mention of criminal activity
we
may simply take this as read
they
have a lean and hungry look
I
think most of them have knives, the brutes
so
yes well of course there are always caveats
but
essentially and for the purposes of self-worth
national
pride and so on
let's
just suffice it to say
I
have decided to take no prisoners
(think
of it as a kind of shorthand
for
a facilitated trend
[the
stats will soon be out
so
you can follow on a chart])
they
eat too much
I
can't afford to feed them
I
can't afford the fencing
the
upkeep
the
cleaning up after them
and
then there are the endless inspections
I
do take some joy in their squalid conditions
but
this is no longer enough
it
is, after all, more fun seeing them
come
back on their shields
all
fours rigid upside down
doing
the daisy push
before
they're even in the ground
who
doesn't want to
just
mow em down?
Polyphemos
had the right idea
wash
em down like pills
with
your wine
bones
for soup later
Dirty
Duterte, son-of-whore caller
(Arturo
Ui had nothing on him)
he
does the Philippines like this
just
rub the fuckers out
and
Trump will build a wall
just
so he can hear himself think
but
that's not going to happen
it's
all well and good in theory
just
look at these sad-sacks
they
won't shut the fuck up
they're
just hanging around
waiting
to be dealt with
I
will not appeal
to
base motives
let
me say simply
I
have my reasons
of
which reason must be
none
the wiser
let
me explain
this
is an executive decision
this
is my captain's call
I
take full responsibility
for
taking no further prisoners
you'll
think I'm cruel, arbitrary
(I
certainly hope so)
you'll
think I'm all kinds of things
but
I'm not taking any prisoners
not
any more
I
do not resile
(make
a note!)
my
decision is historic!
eleven
ships full of the hardened
crust-a-bread
kind
should
have stayed at home
ask
any blackfellah
they'll
tell you
ah
I see from the wry smile
you
think it's a con job
that
really I have no prisoners at all
you
think someone who's running a poem
can't
be writing a prison on the side
huh
I say huh
probably
you think I'm composing this inside
in
some elaborate effort at irony
dammit!
reflux
does
this mean being a vegetarian?
will
I never
go hunting again?
yes
there will be consequences
if
my chickens are free to range
a
hunger strike?
then
spotlight them like kangaroos
at
a cull
feed
them to the hounds
that
bay on foreign shores
you
might say
I'm
a prisoner of this thinking –
that's
the kind of whining
we've
come to expect
from
chatterers
from
your kind
you...
poetry reader
bleeding
heart
you
think this is all
a
bit hairy chested
shirtfronted
but
even the dead
can
take some more flogging
they're
ideal for an example
and
so low on upkeep
I
do acknowledge
convicts
would be missed
I
know
that
prisons create employment
provide
a community with a focus
generate
business opportunities outside
as
well as in
prisons
help people to think about the question of justice
they
give criminals a breather
from
having to engage with the public
(and
who doesn't find that hard?)
I
do get it
we've
had a committee
cast
an eye over
it's
true there are benefits
in
rehabilitation
so
there is a little wriggle-room
maybe
I'll take just a few prisoners
on
a trial basis
(he
he)
they
could be selected
and
I mean carefully
maybe
I'll keep them for pets
they'll
have to be trained not to bite
not
to steal, not commit crimes of any kind
…
ah but you see what we're up
against?
the
criminal class!
I
don't suppose it's really their fault
there's
no one who really wanted that life
the
worst of the worst were always abused
and
diabolically lacking in luck
never
forget, luck's a factor
so
really I do have a heart you know
I
feel for these poor lost souls
honestly
I'd like to take in some prisoners
I'd
feed them and clothe them
I'd
give them good instruction
cuddles,
the rest
make
them feel loved
I
would make them better people
I'd
do my best to make them whole again
I
really would
I
would rant at them like this
I
would
the
crapping on
would
just keep on
I
would take a few prisoners
to
help you know...
if
I could...
but
life
is
just too
short
This head me rapt.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeletejust think all you'd save
taking no prisoners
thinking of moving to the Philippines, Rob?
ReplyDeleteHa.
Delete