Remember this in the days to come,
When uncertainly is the whole of your life,
Did I do right? Did I do wrong?
Did I make the world in which I live?

This world when a knock upon the door,
Strikes fear and terror into your very soul,
“Did I do something wrong? Did I do something wrong?”
“No ma’am, but give it time.”

Remember this when you feel safe,
Because you’re one of the elite, one of the few,
Even though they will always look down on you,
With utmost contempt and disgust.

Because your ‘small’ business means nothing to them,
Bar something to buy and something to own,
Or a threat to be taxed and fined into oblivion,
To keep you in your place.

Remember this when they take your neighbours away,
That lovely couple from… where was it?
They’re not welcome now, they don’t fit,
In this superficial picture postcard world.

“I never had a problem with them, but…
“The law’s the law and it’s here to protect us,
“I’m not sure what from, but they know what they’re doing.
“They do know what they’re doing… don’t they?”

Remember this when the letter comes,
To say your one and only son,
Who moments before you bounced on your knee,
Must fight and die in some meaningless war.

Not a war for freedom or liberty,
But a war for oil, a war for land,
A war for greed, a war for excess,
A war for more and more and still yet more.

Remember this when your granddaughter can’t read,
Because she was never taught and never schooled,
Except to cook and clean and obey,
And keep quiet about those other things.

And the only book that your grandson has read,
Is the bible… or at least a version thereof,
But you read things in your time and you understood,
You read this. Remember this.

© Paul Ferry 2025