A Giant’s square marbles tumbled from on high

Scattered about a square grid of systemic allegiance

To a totemistic ethos proclaiming “buy, buy, buy.”

CBD – Chloroformed Barter Domain –

Remnants of a ways and means to deny any other god

Except that which can assuage our need to s(h)ell out and thrive

To the tune of I’ll scratch your back if you’ll scratch mine.

A coalition of the schil-dilled willing.

In response to an apparently ever present threat to freedom

Hard won and vigilantly protected under license from

A dead hand patented way of life.

But, then again, a bollard’s blight can be a delight

For some of us who see beyond mere functionality;

A chance to brighten up the day and take on fears

Derived from common misconceptions born of night

Sweats that we cannot control how events unfold.

And atone for our lack of punctuality in passing by.

The market shares of dread spreads as a sport

And supports an opportunity to deface and adorn

Anew in tandem random targeting like a # to hack

The city’s consciousness;

Rather than smeared, a campaign of raising us above

Ourselves in defiance, to elevate discussion of topics

Usually segregated to Q&A sessions of conforming performance

To appear righteous in the face of head-on isms collisions.

Rather than sneered at flags to ignite in place of salutations to conspire

A smile and spread the love around

As doilies, antimacassars, inverted parachutes,

Slipcovers of all told dimensions in balance with retro kitsch

Dished up as box-sets’ fold out sleeves to wear our hearts upon.

Get a groove on in deference to the defence of rights that sway

Hard pressed wills’ vindication to grease the wheels

And ultimately goad the right of reply and remand.

And atone for misplaced resolutions in passing by.

Michael Haward