'To a Friend on His Election '

By Nicholas Gordon

Congratulations on your victory

Over those who'd labor in your stead.

Now that you have won, the road ahead

Gives pause: for what good soul-elect can be

Respondent to such need? Or happily

Attendant on such pain? It's often said

That power corrupts, but your audacious tread

Unheard might leave its footprints on the sea.

Little can one do, yet much is asked

As life responds to policy unfazed,

Taking, just perhaps, a hopeful turn.

Intending good, one is widely tasked,

Open to rebuke, and rarely praised,

Needing faith to change, as one must learn,

Scenes on which all helpless long have gazed

ANOTHER POEM ON POLITICS

Those Who Have Power and No Pity

Those who have power and no pity,

Who would avenge the right by sword,

And profit from justice,

And do well by doing good;

Those who would gain by others' grief

In the name of freedom,

And allocate the Earth's abundance to themselves,

And allow the marketplace to starve children;

And those who would see such things happen and do nothing:

The mark of Cain is on them,

And on their followers,

And on their generations.

By  Nicholas Gordon

http://www.poemsforfree.com/thosew.html

Home | Contact us | Links | Archives