I couldn't help re-posting this comment left by Loam on my article on the Cop-Out-26 Carnival of Illusions. Thanks Loam.
THIS SEPTIC ISLE – by Mike Cashman, inspired by the work of William Shakespeare
This sorry state of things, this septic isle,
This den of crony works, this dreadful mess,
This other pigsty, this great fest’ring pile,
This coven of the knaves that won’t confess.
I speak not of the land and people fine,
But government that’s in place by deceit
That’s had so many reasons to resign
But sent integrity into retreat.
This open flouting of all moral rules
For profit and backhanders they call fees,
This treatment of us as so many fools
They think won’t see the wickedness and sleaze,
Or else will brush it off as “All act thus”,
And tolerate wrongdoing with no qualms,
As p’litical manoeuvres on a bus,
Ignoring all the consequential harms.
This focus just on how much cash they hoard,
With ethical good standards in the bin;
That Ministerial code that’s just ignored,
With blind eye simply turned on any sin.
Determination that there’ll be no lessons learned;
This attitude that rules are not for them,
That if you break the rules they’re overturned,
That no wrongdoing will they e’er condemn.
This land with better past, this much loved land,
That had good reputation far and wide,
Is now leased out, by dirty oft bribed hand,
Like to a criminal that does not hide.
Britain, bound in with the triumphant sea,
Is falling fast and left its soul behind
Contaminated now; as PPE
Has dodgy deals and crony contract signed.
That Britain, with ambitions global claimed,
Hath made a shameful conquest of itself.
And never will the Government be blamed
For damage they have done to wealth and health;
Integrity’s another empty shelf.
….with thanks and apologies to William Shakespeare.
