Category Archives: Villanelles

Frank Poems: SPECIAL MILITARY OPERATION

The Guardian, 6 October 2023: "Russia condemned over ‘horrifying’ strike on Ukraine village that killed more than 50"

Putin’s war on fascists is going well.
Over fifty dead today in a fascist shop,
But there’ll be many more fascists to fight in Hell.

Hundreds of patients in fascist hospitals,
Thousands at home in their fascist house or flat:
Putin’s war on fascists is going well.

So many children, taught fascism at school,
Will grow up as fascists; it has to be stopped,
But there’ll be many more fascists to fight in Hell.

Babies who are fascist before entering the world,
Pensioners who are fascist, even when old:
Putin’s war on fascists is going well.

Navalny the Fascist’s in a prison cell,
Putin the Democrat having shown him what’s what,
But there’ll be many more fascists to fight in Hell.

The fascists in Syria had to be shelled,
Just like the Chechens, with their fascist plot.
Putin’s war on fascists is going well,
But he’ll have many more fascists to fight in Hell.

"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925

Frank Poems: POLIRELIGIONTICS

The Guardian, 1 April 2023: "Faith leaders pray with President Donald Trump during a rally for evangelical supporters at the King Jesus International Ministry church in Miami on 3 January 2020. Photograph: Lynne Sladky/AP"

Do not mix religion and politics,
Even though God might have the odd opinion,
And Jesus Christ died on a crucifix.

Examples of the opposite one could pick:
Charlegmane, as much as anyone,
Mixed, for sure, religion and politics –

Muhammad waged war in the Middle East,
Theocrats in Iran wage war on women –
But Jesus Christ died on a crucifix –

Burmese monks burn Rohingya villages,
TV evangelists love right-wing politicians –
Politics and religion do not mix –

Joseph Smith, he of the Latter Day Saints,
Became General of the Nauvoo Legion –
But his Jesus died on a crucifix –

In India, Modi persecutes Muslims,
Catholic countries ran the Inquisition.
Religion and politics do not mix.
Jesus died on a crucifix.

"House by the Railroad," Edward Hopper, 1925