Artificial Harmony

I’m sitting on the bus

Thinking about time again

Thinking about suffering

Thinking about relativism

I’m feeling edgy

Uncomfortable

Sitting still

While the world spirals

 

I can’t focus

My eyes wander

And I don’t even notice

The music

Streaming through

Earphones

Straight into my head

 

Suddenly red

Catches my eye

And I look left

 

IN EMERGENCY

BREAK GLASS

WITH HAMMER

 

I forget to breathe

 

My fingers itch

I clench them

 

I’m shaking

And I swallow

 

I’m being ridiculous

But...

 

I can feel the panic

Bubbling up

Can feel myself

Leaning towards

The escape

 

IN EMERGENCY

It says

And I catch myself

Wondering what

They deem

An EMERGENCY

 

Millions dead

Thousands deformed

Starvation

Inequality

War

 

I look around me

At their blank faces

Their lips moving

In sickening displays

As they twist words

To fit their

Fickle needs

And I feel sick

With disgust

 

I want to jump up

Smash my way through

The transparent cage

(Bubble of protection)

Escape their lack of concern

Because I can’t take it

Pretending life’s good

That everything’s fine

 

But...

I’m just a child and

You’ve taught me not to

Stand up

Stand out

Taught me not to

Draw attention

 

Why’d you bring me up

To be so selfish

And self preserving

(To shift the blame

Rather than handle

The guilt)

 

We’re all scared

And no one will

Lift a finger

Let alone a fist

To help them

 

We post the odd cheque

Spare the odd pound

But our downcast eyes

Are for the benefit

Of society

 

We just want to forget

 

We’re all scared

And too protective

Of our own security

All too certain

There’s nothing

We can do

Except look the other way

 

Give them privacy

For their grief

 

IN EMERGENCY

BREAK GLASS

WITH HAMMER

 

I look away

I’m no better

But I’m just a child

 

Why didn’t you

Show me how?

Reviews

[EMP]

gee whizz. what a poem, you're right it's long, but it's a really good length actually, i couldn't stop reading it and i didn't get bored and i could feel the anger rushing around and it was almost like the emergency hammer was a temptation. i loved it, really good write claire :D

[Beatrice Mars]

Oof! This gave me shivers! Everything is so angry and confused and then those last two stanzas are just really calm but also still angry....loved it

[JudeTrain]

Well this starts somewhere, and then explodes in different directions. Its like getting splashed with cold water when your tired, it kinda pisses you off, but then again its refreshing. I guess that's how I'd explain this poem...well done 80/100