RITA DI SANTO points out the social experience of exploitation and oppression that inform the popular winners at this year’s festival
Democracy was a Fine Idea
by Owen Gallagher
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.
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