On Tuesday, close heat
flowed with crowd through
narrow-streeted city towards
towering symbol of authority.
Authority left workers, tradespeople,
breadless. Famined days worsened
with austerity, rule of aristocracy
robbed majority of dignity.
Dignity, short-supplied commodity
at distribution center, where
anonymous ones, computer-monitored,
plucked boxes off shelves.
Shelves became their daily
Sisyphean round. At day’s end
they were empty, by morning
product-filled again.
Again! No longer artisan
rebels declared. Taking
recently acquired muskets,
went forth, liberating prison.
Prison’s defenders weren’t vast army,
only seven prisoners freed.
Liberty rose on revolution’s wings;
king recorded nothing happening.
Happening today appears far away,
subjects under global corporate yoke;
unimaginative thin gruel handout;
doing replacing human being.
Being human. Mean something;
no longer mere machine.
Awakening to co-creation,
world awaits our imagination.
© Phil Kemp 2026
