until the Government dragged it onto the floor
of the House of Commons, ripped
its thoughts out and held them high,
taunting the opposition.

They plucked the vision from its sockets, 
tore the speech from its mouth,
severed its head
and stamped on its calloused hands.

To ensure its remains would not be venerated, 
they doused it with hate, struck a match
and shovelled the ashes
down a sluice into the Thames.

                    
Owen Gallagher was born in the Gorbals in Glasgow to Irish parents and has written several collections including Sat Guru Snowman, A Good Enough Love, Clydebuilt and Tea with the Taliban (Smokestack Books, 2012) from which this poem is taken. He was a primary school teacher in Southall for many years and lives in London.
Poetry submissions to thursdaypoems@gmail.com.