Etches Your Face

it irks to see timeless
ideas of lyrical beauty
counterpoint to this
crass indecency of
dishonourable self-
aggrandisement

yet we were drawn in
by similar pursuits of
sweet voices sounding
all too familiar words
a praise of poetry we
knew came but freely

thus it was here where
we seduced you easily
saw clear possibilities
for poetry to discover
your voice within –
until things changed

scales fell from your
eyes as forms of falsely
forged humanity disgraced
liberal views with the
damning evidence that
we are merely pawns

you may not want to
play the game that way
but there is no excuse
it pays rent and less a
hint of shame – its fame
already etches your face
© 20 May 2008, I. D. Carswell