PUT THE POETS OUT OF POLITICS

Love Poetry Hate Racism Celebrating Diversity through the Spoken Word across the Spoken WorldApril 20th, 21st and 22nd 2007. A group of poets in Belfast are behind a series of poetry events taking place this weekend under the banner of ‘Love Poetry, Hate Racism’.

PUT THE POETS OUT OF POLITICS

Put the poets out of politics.
They must not formulate opinions
on society or government
or any of its minions.

Put the poets out of politics.
Keep their influence platonic.
They must not inspire action –
the outcome would be chronic.

Put the poets out of politics.
Keep them safe and quite unheard.
On racism and budgets
they must not say a word.


Put the poets out of politics.
Keep them locked in cattle pens a
nd make them all read newspapers
until they see some sense.

Put the poets out of politics.
Make them comment in bald prose.
If they must write poetry
let it be on landscape, wrens and snows.

Put the poets out of politics.
Abolish Blake and then scrap Shelley.
Never let poets wind up
reading poems on the telly.

Put the poets out of politics.
They must be fluffy, sweet and nice
and never hand out anything
as dangerous as advice!