For too long we’ve sat imperiously on the fence Now we find ourselves singed and scarred by fire Ash continually falls A remnant of the past Smoke filling our lungs As we draw a pained morning breath While our silent gaze tries to penetrate that unnatural haze In stillness to view a blackened surround That’s become today’s Australia. Our bankrupt dogmatic politicians A little more uncomfortable each day Reeking of their intransigence Refusing to be swayed Logical arguments batted away By their righteous indignation A bankrupt and wretched moral code Where their slights of hand Can no longer obfuscate. Our chorus is finally finding its voice A brotherhood of common man With each passing day Coming together and growing stronger An audience finally found Realisation dawning Of endless horror ahead With no end in sight. Time for action We demand Lack of imagination is no excuse Time to put petty ideologies aside For the tipping point has been reached And passed And we have failed the test To care for our children Our obligations as stewards of this land And consigned our ignominious place in history. We are now on that slippery path On our way down A shadowy abyss awaits Time to act Time at least To minimise the impact of our fall Time to get off that rickety fence Before we too turn into ash. ©Vinod Ralh. 2019
The Spoken Word 