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Citadel of Censorship

The noblemen control the pen, indeed they own the farm, but nonetheless exude finesse (and need I mention charm?) with revenue to sate the few, exulting arm in arm; for all the rest, they wish the best and certainly mean no harm. The fourth estate stands proud and straight, emplaced upon a peak, beside a birch where parrots perch and claim the truth to speak; while hatching schemes, they’re hawking dreams to keep us mild and meek, promoted by the gods on high, that clever reigning clique. They spread their lies throughout the sties to keep the truth at bay and horoscopes are filled with hopes for those with faith to pray; the other few wait in the queue, with faces made of clay, collecting crumbs which have become their dreams of yesterday. The tube embeds the talking heads (you know the ones, the tools) who on the screens won’t spill the beans, lest mighty might unspools, so bend the news reflecting views of those who set the rules to obfuscate and fabricate their pabulum for fools. With pyrite smiles and other wiles, they thrive concocting tales that lead to wars on foreign shores, which help improve the sales of missile tips and battleships, discounting death that pales and broken hearts for body parts a graveled grave regales. You wouldn’t guess, the yellow press, when out to make a kill, will sell their soul (to dodge the dole) and feed the swine some swill – a trenchant trope with inside dope that gives the crowds a thrill (when mixed with tripe, they call it hype) and masks a bitter pill. The tabloids reek of doublespeak – when did the stench begin? In olden times, with paradigms, no doubt with but a grin; but nowadays, in subtle ways, there’s far more discipline: they scrawl their screeds neath headline leads that give the tales a spin. A clever dunce tried hard just once to read between the lies and thereby found that facts are drowned within a newspeak guise. Yeah, all that stuff reflects the slough they hide behind their eyes, although absurd it fuels the herd like schite sustaining flies. Within the fort a special court is hidden from our view where sits a judge who’ll never budge, called Captain Kangaroo; as justice bleeds, those evil deeds (like leaking what is true) will be convicted as pre-scripted by the hangman’s crew. A blue-eyed wight uncloaks the night and when (by chance, perhaps) his whistle blows, the airwaves close, high crime stays under wraps, and those that sin prevail again with feathers in their caps; the price instead’s the leaker’s head, precluding a relapse.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021




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Date: 8/8/2021 11:45:00 AM
A great read Terry! My favorite style of poetry is right here, and the skill, to me, is astounding. (And I think I have observed the PS phenomenon to which Jan refers.)
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Terry O'Leary
Date: 8/10/2021 10:30:00 AM
Thank you Dalton! In rereading this just now, I detected a 'small censored detail' which I've 'corrected'. I noticed it because the meter got 'bent' as a result. Maybe that's an example of what Jan and you have observed...
Date: 6/20/2021 8:12:00 AM
Don;t know much about France but over here the more they talk about open government the gates seem to be closed. Poetry is good way to keep making point. regards David in NZ
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Terry O'Leary
Date: 8/10/2021 10:24:00 AM
Thanks David, Yeah doublespeak is the Esperanto newspeak, everywhere, seemingly. Terry
Date: 6/13/2021 4:15:00 PM
Bravo for speaking out Terry so many of our actions are controlled and big brother is always watching us and with the press we have to 'read between the lies' as for the Kangaroo court i have enough issues with idiots here trying to censor what i write but i will never give in to the bullies and trolls:-) hugs jan xx
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Terry O'Leary
Date: 6/20/2021 6:56:00 AM
Thanks Jan! A very welcome comment... But tell me about your problems with PS... Hugs Terry xxx

Book: Shattered Sighs