No Silent Night

Untaught letter boxes

Trapped in hatred

Bearing false witness, on the front lawn

Statements of hypocrisy

Truth’s allegorical

Framed intolerance on parade

Gifts of belligerence

Wrapped up in a bow

Lives in pieces

Instead of peace on Earth

Cowering in silence

From a fist flung in rage

No silent night for you

Famed aristocracy

Turned taut with democracy

Give shelter from a shattering blow

Cloaked demagoguery

Shamed by the imagery of your thunderous pain

Lives in pieces

No peace on Earth

No peace in the house, no friends or foe

Sing choirs of angels

As blood flows unrepentant

On streets of poverty

Pound shops and cash a cheque

Food banks and mockery

And a drunk who crashed into a tree

Lives in pieces

Instead of peace on Earth

©John de Gruyther 2013

Reviews

[Madison O'Dwyer]

Love your use of the word demagoguery and so glad I took a politics paper before I read this poem!

This poem ticks all the boxes for me - hooking introduction, a bit of puzzle, great use of vocabulary, striking point, and beautifully tragic ending with a bit of word play.
Dazzled! Thanks for sharing.

[Shaquana Adams]

Nice! I really like what you did with this poem! Good job :)

[Brittany Zedalis]

There is some serious power and energy in these words. Well done! I like it!

[John de Gruyther]

Thanks for "getting" what I was trying to say. And thanks for your kind and constructive words :)

[John de Gruyther]

Thanks, it really is meant to be read aloud as a stream of conciousness piece of work..

[Wuji]

It's my favorite so far of yours, I like the social relevance in it. I find poets don't tend to write enough of social commentary.

[Wuji]

This piece has a lot going for it, a great title and some awesome lines. But perhaps if it were organized into stanzas of a few lines each it would be easier to read.