#1429 - every nation is a bad idea

 

1429

4.333

30.xi.23

every nation is a bad idea

 

take yours

take mine, for instance

 

how brave

how full of fire and foe

 

comes wrapped in a tune

with a coin to go round

with a flag to cover the breeze

 

every nation

so secret safe

 

bundle of lie

right or wrong

 

all these laws

 

so wonderfully other each nation is

and yet they’re all the same

 

each depends on its tomb

and more unknown to make

 

into the breach!

some say future

 

take down the old empire and treaty

 

you have to imagine it too

hold heart in hand

mine, yours

 

keep on

tear up

salute

 

nostalgia for all the never was

and where we weren’t

 

think family

despatch the boys to the front

 

drop a few bombs

and feel good

 

ah, nation!

 

what would we do without?

where would we be?

who’d pay?

 

and some will say ‘reality’

some will say I’m dreaming

 

‘the national’

it’s almost the name of a race

but not quite

and

better than any, my own

 

each little eternity is love divested

has to have come from somewhere still

 

then shall we say the mouths of babes?

 

nation innate, incarnate

statuesque

a tableau of the whole demesne

from go to woe as well

 

once kingdom

now subdued

the little death machine – a state

 

as ancient in authority

as unexceptional

 

clock strikes so one expires

collect them like matchbox football cards

 

what were we thinking?

question won’t arise

 

country’s where we all belong

 

if only we each would love our place

nor spread the doom belonging

 

every nation is a bad idea

 

nation’s a bad idea