Play the man, and not the ball.
Sneer about 2019, the impotence
of protest. Say nothing of slaughter.

Talk tough on benefits 
in your free suit, glasses, shoes.
Mention veterans. Stop boats.

Glastonbury tickets trump digital tax.
You have a right to watch football.
Let me be clear. These are facts.

Your team, a snout.
Taylor Swift, a trough.
Isn’t it nice, the quiet?

At the helm of our nation’s photocopier:
grown-ups. Sensible. Beige.
Pastiches of Cool Britannia.

Your vision of the future? 
A tribute act. Stamping
outsourced. Hail profit. Forever.

Steve Pottinger is a Midlands-based writer with several collections to his name. Rather than talk about his poetry, he much prefers to let his poetry speak for itself. www.stevepottinger.co.uk.
Poetry submissions should be sent to: thursdaypoems@gmail.com