Snowstorms

by Derek Morrison

Snowflakes falling on Ivory Tower
Privileged pressure exerting power
Primed for insult and outrage too
Detecting heretics from any clue
Exorcise those now deemed incorrect
Such bygone stars deserve no respect
So only safe ideas can they exchange
All falling within the comfort range
Learning only where none feels hurt
With no requirement to explore the dirt
In building silos of righteous thought
Militant intolerance has been wrought
Divergent opinions now shut down
For new Puritans to claim the crown
Proclaiming safe speech they defend
But thought-crime is the actual trend
New Hate Weeks they now opine
Defining those that crossed the line
No platforms; don’t hear them speak
Drowning message with shout and shriek
And what Trojan is this free speech zone?
This meme nursery, where weeds are sown
Establish new orthodoxy; apply the codes
Whims and affectations travel scholar’s roads.

[To listen to this verse select below]

Continue reading

Branded

by Derek Morrison

Frédéric_de_Civry182x300I struggle hard to understand
My obsession with the leading brand
A transient boost to needy pride
Makes this the only one to ride
Reassuringly expensive the price I paid
To project the image I wish conveyed
Pursuing quality is what I claim
Not tacit value in branded name
But lesser brands are just as viable
And many are much more reliable
But Mondeo class would never do
To align with my peers or crew
Dressed in my ersatz sponsored attire
Cueing lifestyle … or perhaps desire
Quality of life is what I sought
And be admired for what I’ve bought
For brand monsters lie within my head
It’s id and ego who must be fed.

[To listen to this verse select below]

Continue reading

Brockweir

by Derek Morrison

Brockweir Quay
Brockweir Quay – the vestiges of what was once a busy port are just about visible in centre foreground.
Attribution: Roy Parkhouse [CC-BY-SA-2.0]
Click to view larger image.
Over the two bridges that look like one
For a border weave is today’s cycle run
On the other side we’re through South Wales’ gate
Onwards past Chepstow’s outskirts, keep riding straight.

A466 near Tintern
Wye Valley: A466 near Tintern
Attribution: Alby [CC BY-SA 2.0]
Click to view larger image.
On the A466 to St Arvans, we head
Now a small climb to the top, but no sweat need be shed
For follows the Wye Valley descent, down which we all zoom
Miles of gravity-powered energy, so our own we don’t consume. Continue reading