~
tragedy is keeper of the watch,
abruptly waking people from their
self-satisfied slumber,
tragedy is a rapier blade
conscience prick,
a librarian of sentimental, rich
untimely spluttered platitudes,
tragedy is a grief detective
spilling guilt like alms given
tardily to the poor,
tragedy waits at the wellhead of
crocodile tears, giving succour
to the bereaved who crawl
from every crevice, their pockets
crammed with worthless hindsight,
tragedy, once the hot news has faded
into frozen history, readily takes
its place in the crowded pews of the
‘church of seen it all before’
to gorge on the ripe flesh of hypocrisy
*
© GRS 10/24
grahamrichardsherwood.co.uk 