#2092 - today we come together to mourn hate

 

2092

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22.ix.25

today we come together to mourn hate

solemn and civic the occasion

 

 

and call it respect

 

all the haters come together for this

 

they say that hate was gentle

they say that hate was kind

a great listener

one in a million hate was

 

the goading one, vicious

spouting old empire – the slaves

and the kitchen chains, the slurs …

this Caligula cut down in his prime

the avatar apotheosis

the very spectacle of hate

 

and death was hate’s finest work too

he went down spewing forth hate at the time

hate to warm the hater’s heart

 

then there is a minute’s silence for hate

a private moment to reflect, for prayer

 

as if they were by tumbril come

hell loosed, all the devils here

monsters of the Id

 

some of hate’s mourners are overcome with emotion

they know very well though t hate rises again

they borrow from the gospel of light

take rote comfort there

as if angels were with them

 

one by one, to the rostrum

and far far better, so far from grace

the bladed tongue of privilege

weapons arrayed to praise

 

 

hate’s paroxysm in the public square

 

and all the haters mourn

they do it with the big lie

a lie that’s bigger than any of them

the greatest lie ever told

 

it’s bigger than the superbowl

the emperor is here as well

(thank God the emperor wears cloths)

 

they shoulder along hate’s coffin

keep the grave shallow

where hate will rise

 

theirs is sure and certain knowledge

 

and now we know

they come not to bury

but to praise hate

 

see these ones with the guns, with the money

come to tell us how hate was their fine friend

how reasonable hate was

how you can understand

it’s not so hard, is it?

because you’re a hater too

 

hate made you what you are

 

how the memory of hate must live forever

and put up a monument too

 

all the bad things you heard about hate

they tell us these things are untrue

 

a lovely pointed hat

a burning cross on the lawn

the noose

remember the Inquisition?

not so far back

 

delusion of the warrior

to think hate could be slain

 

 

now hate’s widow forgives the bullet

the fool who made the martyr

though a bullet could never kill

hate’s stronger than your guns

 

the widow takes up a cudgel

here’s a woe betide

you do know it’s all biblical

 

have you noticed how hate can turn on a dime?

 

some say excess of love until

hate’s a saint of the pantheon now

 

they come to bury hate, they say

with all pomp and malice aforethought

but hate still has a story to tell

 

we must be courteous and listen

lest haters take offence

they’re shy and shrinking in abomination

 

hate sits up smiling in his grave

 

we wouldn’t be here without him

that’s what some of them say

 

they’re singing their songs of hate

they’re praying for hate

 

they’re building hate’s legacy already

it’s a righteous fury they have

all the better to hate you with

unless, unless … you hate with us

you’re one of us, and made of hate

 

sword in the whip hand

plinth mounted

soon the statue of hate

is wherever you go

 

else punitive measures await

 

and yes

this is the greatest lie ever told

lie still telling today

tomorrow the lie will be bigger

you’ll see!

 

I will not show his picture

I will not say his name