72 Million

72 Million

Politics. An abstract
Concept that tries to bind
Ideologies and hatreds into
A tidy collection of indirect
Lies. Those figurative and
Performative words mean
Nothing. What matters is
What people do, how they
Act, what respect they show
For humanity.

Here we have 72 million reasons
To hate immigrants, 72 million
Levers with which to shatter
Democracy. Here we have 72
Million insults for those of a
Different colour, creed,
Sexuality, thought. 72 million
Excuses for hating others.
Here are 72 million ways in
Which to abuse wife, daughter,
Stranger, invented friend.
We present the slide show
Of white men feeding their
Imagined supremacy with
Imagined crypto money,
An intangible, laundered, and illegal
Wealth that gives limitless power
Over the small people.
72 million pounds which would
Feed innumerable homeless,
That would wipe out hospice
Deficits for a year, that could
Improve mental health services,
Cut waiting lists, make life
More bearable for those who
Find it unbearable.

These aren’t 72 million
Intangible and indecipherable
Concepts, quarrelling ideologies,
Different points of view. That
Money is a touchable distance
Between those who care,
And those who don’t, between
Those who love and those
Who don’t.

R 14/09/2026 23:31 Norwich