BIDENING TIME by David Erdos - Poem 4 from THE PEOPLES PRISON

 Poem 4 from THE PEOPLES PRISON

BIDENING TIME, or TEMPEST TURN

As in a Pantomime, or bad film, the villain

Has been defeated, and yet Caliban can’t go calmly,

Not that this beast has such soul. Instead, he will cling

To the craven rock that contains him; that internal

Cavern in which only moral earthquakes takes hold.

 

It will be two months at least before the White House

Is relinquished. What will he leave; Big Mac wrappers,

Or porn star stained golden flakes; KGB email pings

Resounding through the place like hawk echoes,

Or tiny landmines carelessly placed beneath carpets

 

In which we will wish to unlease verse one’s quakes?

But for now, there’s release, even hope, as the sense

In America settles. And yet as it does so, those the Donald

Trumped live in fear. They grab for their guns fearing,

Or, so it would appear, insurrection, as the divide

 

Just grows deeper, and the actual means to revive

Stays unclear. Biden will be the oldest President yet.

Look how this third attempt aged him. And yet his dignity

Saved him, if perhaps at times, his memory failed.

But with a woman of colour VP, there will be a legacy

 

To continue, and if we can be naïve, some small

Glimmer that the machinations in Russia and in China, too

Won’t be hailed. Or, be hailed as easily. Still; Kamala

Harris, hope claims you. As you’re biding your time

Beside Biden and as Biden too waits to be,

 

The precedent of Obama returns, with the chance

For more direction action, as the Presidential term

Is ennobled after being defiled. That feels free.

Or, perhaps, it does over there. Over here, not so easy.

Bore-is now cannot turn from Brussels with his planned,

 

Loathsome shrug of attack. For Joe Biden pulls back

From the negative notion of Brexit, and perhaps,

From the nation that was so wrongfully pushed to react.

Hope these days, halves, almost as soon as you wish it.

Do not explode with joy around Christmas as you emerge

 

From your caves, to bed down. And remember last year’s

New Year’s Eve: what were we celebrating; 2020?

History has no occasion, or, at least for a while, time’s

Smile frowns. Uncertainty will not be resolved by possibly

Spyware infused form of vaccine. For now, the world stays

Unbalanced, along with people as well. The immune

And the inhumane start to slide, so, all we can do

As we wait is be watchful. Try not to die, or go under.

Hope by all means. Bide your time. And also prepare

A new way that cannot be easily defined by a leader,

 

That is, until the correct one is reminded, and descends

From space, race or heaven to sing a song some God

Started that man and animal must continue as an active

Means to survive. Meanwhile, Queen Bees rule their hives

And insect foremen re-order. If mankind is to remain

 

And recover, it would seem to me, evolution is the only

Election in which we will master the race we’re all running,

While breaching seas of such distance that you could spend

Your life swimming and never get to see the far side.

Are you Prospero, Joe? And is Kamala Miranda?

 

Let the caves now close and seas serve us.

Aerial, we call to you: let each island sustain.

Let us thrive.  

 

David Erdos, November 8th 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.