AFTER THE LIES, or FROM STRUMMER TO SHAKESPEARE AND BACK


AFTER THE LIES, or FROM STRUMMER TO SHAKESPEARE AND BACK



It’s like that Joe Strummer line in the famous Clash classic;
‘If I go there will be trouble/if I stay there will be double..’
Only we’ll have the riots, if not on the street, then in mind.

As it becomes more apparent each day of the current class
Struggle, which as well as the privileged v. the workers
Is to do also with all of us and the so-called Politicians,

Our uncivil servants - for want of a bitter word,
And their kind. Which naturally, they are not. For the illusion
Of care’s no Oasis. And a misalliance in faith is an absence,

An active black hole in blue sky. Which Cummings can’t fill,
As he simply lacks inclination. His pathetic press conference
And the void in his voice explained why. He has no true

Empathy. Now I know some wonderful Tories.
They are of an age and a class now that the current party
Line couldn’t chart. Let me be clear: they are not wonderful

Because they are Tories. Their class and charm 
And their beauty is to do with the type of people they are.
And they started out at a time when there were things

To believe in. At least their figures led, as they’ve
Said it, and had around half the measure of the specific
Principles of that time. I can’t quite concede this,

Of course, as then we have to flit around Thatcher,
But the point is today, all is different. The lies are not
Hidden. They are blatantly scorched through each line.

And yet, as we rage there are those out there
Who allowed this. There are those out there who buffed
Boris, thinking him a loveable clown for our ring.

You bought the image and puffed as he seeped
And smeared indiscretion. You let yourselves be persuaded
That his blonde ambition has been sanctified. But it runs

Deeper than that. He wants a new Constitution in which
He becomes English Emperor, or, at the very least,
Our Pale King. Having lied to his mother, he may dream

Of a suitably Shakespearian Coup against Charles,
And a battle of wits with young Willy. He’d send out
The dogs to spike Megan and like bad King Richard

Perhaps court the freshly widowed Kate for his bride.
Even though he prefers broader types, but each English
Rose will need plucking, and each saving Grace will need

Fucking and casting away in quick time. Who could
Cummings be, then? Certainly not Launcelot Gobbo.
And nor would Iago, despite his complicity, shadow him.

Perhaps Caliban in his cave, slimmed down but still
Deadly. Or the diseased Duke in Measure for Measure
In disguise and out driving, while guilelessly gaining

A proper understanding of sin. And so, from
The Clash, to this crash and the current crisis
For humans. There is this global virus

And the one within Parliaments. Housing those
Who regard that they have both the moral right
And the freedom to do as they want to, according

To their temperament. But now temperatures rise
And the forcing call starts to echo. Out, Scum!
And quickly! Act, Scam! Hope can win!

But the Scammer In Chief is like Charlie Brown’s
Linus: he needs the blue blanket that Dominic C.
Colours in. He won’t go, Joe, won’t leave.

And if he does, it won’t matter. For Boris
Will Zoom him no matter which room hides
His shade. And so, the great obfuscation begins

Along with the misdirect we’ll soon follow.
They’re already lining up the distractions
And the inventions too, as news fades.

So, prepare for a war, or for Dunsinane’s
Mad advances, as Nicola Sturgeons defiance
May well need her Banquet fast.

As the Lockdown starts to lift, we won’t
Ever know what is coming. The Play itself
Remains tragic, with us the strapped extras

Written out and imprisoned,
Our speaking parts stricken
As we cower behind the miscast.



David Erdos, May 27th 2020










For more poems from David Erdos visit The Corona Diaries collection 



David Erdos is an actor, writer, director with over 300 professional credits. He is a published poet, playwright, essayist and illustrator. He has lectured on all disciplines in theatre and film for leading performing arts colleges, schools and universities around the world. His books include EASY VERSES FOR DIFFICULT TIMES, THE SCAR ON THE CLOUD, OIL ON SILVER, NEWS FROM MARS, CHANGING PLACES WITH LIGHT (penniless press) and BYZANTIUM with the photographer Max Reeves. He is a contributing editor for The International Times and maker of documentaries all over the world. David’s work has been acclaimed by many leading figures including Harold Pinter, Heathcote Williams, Alan Moore, Andrew Kotting, Chris Petit and Iain Sinclair in whose recent book THE LAST LONDON, David features. He can be reached at David.erdos@sky.com.

David Erdos





©    David Erdos has asserted his moral rights as author of his work and has full copyright.




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