Crap poem 42 – This Country

Good morning and thank you for visiting to read my 42nd crap poem.

I apologise, but I’ve gone a bit political this time, after my anger started increasing watching some of the news events and political reactions (or lack thereof) to assist in fixing it all.

Things aren’t great at home, and I imagine many of you are suffering in similar ways. It’s unlikely we’ll all agree politically, but I think most of us are tired of a lack of solutions while the list of problems gets longer and longer.

Here is ‘This Country’, with a few of my thoughts.

**********

Our Country

A culture of bias.

A country that’s hurting.

Bureaucracy reigns.

This set up’s alerting.


Can I be democratic

when care is reducing,

when people are desperate,

and only anger’s inducing?


Can we truly believe

those who are privileged and wealthy

are invested to help us

become mentally healthy?


I find myself blinded

by colours of power.

Whether red, blue or yellow,

this constituent will sour.


I watch on in horror

as wait lists get longer

people dying for treatment

and protests get stronger.


The planet is burning.

The sea’s filled with plastic.

The hole in the ozone

remains just as fantastic.


Pensions are dwindling.

Income is low.

And if you aren’t healthy,

you won’t own, you’ll owe.


To me, this class system

is chronically unfair.

If you’re wealthy and able,

you’ll be helped up the stairs.


But the second you struggle,

when bad luck comes knocking,

those helpers won’t be there

to fill your kids stockings.


For us down here desperate,

left to feel lonely shame,

just a four-yearly chance

to get more of the same.


If you’re one of them

then please just imagine

begging donors for food

‘cause bad luck bought a famine.


Watching a loved one

suffer in silence

while waiting for treatment

with no one for guidance.


Knowing your energy

will tomorrow switch off

because the bill had to wait

⁃ the dog has a cough.


The reality is

you’ll never know fear

because your privilege makes

your life less severe.


Yes, your affected

if prices increase.

But you can absorb it,

let savings decrease.


And waitlists are painful,

I sense your disquiet.

But your status will save you,

you’ve paid to go private.


I get we’re all human.

We all feel this pain.

But the poor are now poorer,

those in power, remain.


I used to feel lucky

to find myself living

in this strong, wealthy country

where society’s forgiving.


But when my luck run out,

and my health went downhill,

my view changed quite quickly,

through prescribed bitter pills.


If you get to the top

the world is your oyster.

But here in the gutter,

pain rots in the moisture.


So stop looking down

and realise the price

of people that suffer

when you roll the dice.


We have ideas

opinions and dreams.

But they’re being forgotten

and we’re out of steam.


First world democracy

where politics is fair

is no longer this country.

And nobody cares.


Society crumbles

as we look around.

What is the answer?

Whose door do we pound?


Sadly, the answer

now falls to us.

Say hi to your neighbour.

Help gran off the bus.


If years of austerity

give us only one thing,

let communities strengthen,

help your loved ones to sing.


Donate to a charity.

Where are you can spend on local.

Smaller business should thrive,

and to fat cats, be vocal.


Spend time with neighbours,

offer them seating.

Each time you do this,

someone lowers their heating.


A culture of bias.

A country that’s hurting.

Is the only solution

communities subverting?


One thing is certain –

we’re all on her own.

But when we come together,

we don’t suffer alone.

**********

Thanks for reading 💜

Published by stephc2021

Hi! I'm Steph, an amateur writer and illustrator specialising in Mental Health and being a self-confessed Spoonie. I help others by publishing creative ideas to help support chronic pain and mental illness, and I write a blog about my own experiences with disability and mental illness. In 2023 I was nominated twice for a Kent Mental Health and Well-being Award from the national mental health charity Mind.

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