Monday, November 07, 2005

Australian protest poetry

Apparently this may be found on a Bali bombing memorial. It's a good poem because its allegories are not overwrought, and it doesn't take too many readings to work out what it's about. I feel the last two lines don't quite scan properly though.It reminds me of my childhood delight at the sign bearing the poem "Oodna-bloody-datta". At that time I was quite thrilled to see so many cusses in a poem, on a sign, in public.

YOU HURT US BOMBING BALI, BUT WE CAN TAKE THE PAIN,

BUT IF YOU THINK YOU’LL BEAT US YOU CAN THINK A-BLOODY-GAIN

WE BATTLED AT GALLIPOLI, AND WE FOUGHT THE BLOODY HUN

OF ALL THE ARSEHOLES WE’VE HAD TO FACE YOU’RE JUST ANOTHER ONE

YOU WON’T GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY, YOU WON’T FIRE A GUN

WHENEVER DANGER THREATENS YOU JUST PACK YOUR GEAR AND RUN

YOU BRAINWASH INNOCENT CHILDREN TO DO YOUR EVIL DEEDS

CAREFUL NOT TO LET THEM KNOW JUST WHERE IT REALLY LEADS

YOU GET THEM TO BELIEVE ALL YOUR BIGOTRY AND LYING

UNTIL THEY CANNOT SEE THAT THERE’S NO GLORY IN THEIR DYING

NOW WE’D LIKE TO POSE A QUESTION, ANSWER IF YOU CAN

WHERE DOES YOUR HOLY BOOK TELL YOU TO KILL YOUR FELLOW MAN?

NOW LISTEN HARD AND LISTEN WELL, WE’RE GIVING YOU THE WORD

YOU’RE NEVER GONNA BEAT US YOU SPINELESS BLOODY TURD

YOU’D NEVER FACE US PERSONALLY YOU HAVEN’T GOT THE GUTS

YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU EVER DID WE’D HAVE YOUR BLOODY NUTS

OUR SPIRIT IS UNBROKEN, AND OUR HEADS ARE STILL UNBOWED

WE SURE AS HELL AREN’T SCARED OF YOU AND YOUR GUTLESS CROWD

SO GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER—YOU’LL NEVER WIN BECAUSE

WHAT YOU’RE REALLY UP AGAINST IS THE SPIRIT THAT IS OZ.

I am indebted to the blog of a 15 year old who likes to tHUmb HER NoSe at capitalism. She is very much in love with a boy who posts lovemails on her site.

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