Category: 3. Poems

Giving back

.

If I were wealthy

would I, could I pay more tax

you’re darn right I would

.

I am not wealthy nor poor

and would pay more now to help

.

by Scooj

I am sickened by some of the wealthy and super-rich who will stop at nothing to avoid paying taxes. What is wrong with these people? Don’t they understand where their wealth comes from? As my grandmother used to say, ‘you can’t take it with you’. Greed and selfishness are alive and thriving in an ever-divided and messed up world. Oligarchs hold influence and power to protect their wealth… to what end?

How much money does a person actually need?

River Fowey

River Fowey at Lostwithiel, Cornwall, October 2025
River Fowey at Lostwithiel, Cornwall, October 2025

.

At Lostwithiel

stannary barges of old

brought prosperity

.

ravaged by the Civil War

its status much diminished

.

by Scooj

  • Lostwithiel, on the banks of the River Fowey is a wonderful Cornish town with an extraordinary history. You can find out more about Lostwithiel history here.
  • Stannary – relating to tin

The sickness

.

Politician’s lies

influencers, feeble minds

division and hate

difficult times to live in

social media pollutes

.

by Scooj

Legacy

.

I’ve an olive tree

a gift from my dead father

I’ll pass it on too

.

by Scooj

6561. St Werburghs tunnel (459)

Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2024
Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2024

The stand-out element of this wonderful BEN piece by Benjimagnetic in the tunnel is, in my view, the outstanding colour selection. Rather cleverly, he has overwritten a piece by Mr Klue, which provides a rather nice backdrop in complementary colours.

Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2024
Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2024

Benjimagnetic pieces are carefully crafted and the style I would describe as being deconstructed writing. The letters are there, but it is more about what is missing rather than what is there, and there is an obscuring of the writing that is its attraction. The fills are made up of black and white writing, which I imagine is extremely difficult to do with spray paint, requiring great can control. An attractive piece.

Discovery

.

Brother and sister

girl: you know we’ve a brother

boy: don’t be silly

.

and in that tender moment

the world felt complicated

.

by Scooj

Limerick 4

.

There was a young girl from Berlin

Who ordered a burger, eat in

When asked was it tasty

She said don’t be hasty

And chucked it away in the bin

.

by Scooj

Surprise? (Germany v Japan)

.

Unlikely result

although on their current form

not so unlikely

.

by Scooj

Limerick #3

.

Voting to leave the EU

was the stupidest thing we could do

this act of self-harm

has worked like a charm

for the fascists who pulled off their coup

.

by Scooj

Abuse

.

Tory government

pathological dislike

of public sector

abusive relationship

bullying, undermining

.

by Scooj

As someone who has spent most of my career working for the public, I am sick of the abuse this government hurl at public sector workers, the very people who are ‘delivering’ Brexit , who teach, who heal, who care, who got this country through the pandemic, who protect the environment and regulate those who would do harm to people and nature, those who keep our streets safe and run fair courts, local service providers… the list goes on.

How dare they?