ON THE SQUARE TABLE

The awkwardness in most official bodies

On the square table

 three glasses

 stand in lowering

waiting for an order.

 

Beside them

a  litre bottle

filled with the clear

colourless smelt

of mannitol

looks at the three

commandingly.

 

And around the four

the silvery medium sized

two bowls crazily laugh

at the commander and pawns

fed with plain boil snake beans

and the other with pieces

of animal meat.

 

Around the six

the three syndicate sit

on the three

 short legged stools

begin to switch on

 for the panel discussion.

 

Noises erupt

situation deepens

discussion expands

but no settlement

and  solution.

 

Smoky air

hangs them over

perspiration falls

fingers cross uselessly

hands rise frequently.

 

Tone synchronises

from the low

 to the intensity

in the adjournment

of  the weary session.

 

Understanding

misunderstanding

scruples, clarities

probabilities, impossibilities

all become one

on this floor of the Table.

 

In the proceeding

 heated arguments

heated debates

on the varied motions

mostly on sex and scandals

are synonymous.

 

Call for more

urge for stronger

demands increase

extra bills  passed

laws  implemented

but it ends

in a brawl .

Reviews

[Ryan Jaimz Knight]

I think it could be more succinct. The message is the futility of politics and how the overall goal is obscured by posturing and quasi-personal agendas played out in a public forum. Stanzas three and eight detract rather than add to the overall piece, and 'bog down' the 'voice' of the piece by making it verbose. Also the format is choppy and doesn't create a good flow when reading the piece aloud. The pauses are unclear. Other than that I think it is a good piece that just needs some minor tweaking in order to reach its full potential.