Category Archives: Philosophy, Politics and Religion

Poems whose theme relates to politics, philosophy or religion

Political Beauty Parade

Political Beauty Parade

The contest to fill the post of PM
Has produced a formidable list of contenders
Each determined to prove their own peerless merit
Of their great track record worthy defenders

Their talents rehearsed like a beauty parade
Even exceeding the charms of the present incumbent
Hoping to gain the Number 10 keys
As soon as Boris can be ousted redundant

It is a pity to watch the emerging signs of
in-fighting
Past peccadillos revealed while digging the dirt
Who knows the truth of these unworthy disclosures
As long as your rivals it will assuredly hurt

Each of the entrants in this beauty parade
Displaying their talents to best effect
Promises almost matching utopia
A perfect future devoid of defect

All I can say is may the best contender win
Let’s hope that victory will bring its reward
And when the contest is eventually over
Internecine strife replaced by accord

Ken Fisher

[Picture from Sky News]

 

The Ship of State in Stormy Waters

The Ship of State in Stormy Waters

On the ocean of this world’s affairs
The ship of state near overwhelmed
Politics in deep travail
The creaking barque all but unhelmed

Wherein lies the problem that so besets
The government of our nation?
Could it be the captain bold
The source of all frustration?

Not just the ship but truth itself
All but lost at sea
From deceit, duplicity and denial
Pray set this vessel free

The master quite unwilling e’r to drown
Resolved his crew to outflank
Holds the wheel with iron grip
Nor will he walk that plank

Some of the crew driven by integrity
Jump ship guided by morality
The captain with the motley residue
Held firm in their venality

The ship sails on in stormy waters
Its destination quite unsure
The world looks on incredulous
At this political grand tour

Ken Fisher

 

Almost Buggered It Up

Almost Buggered It Up
[A sequel to my earlier poem Don’t Bugger It Up]

Boris wins the Vote of Confidence 6/6/22

It couldn’t last is what they said
But Boris proved them wrong
It’s not yet quite buggered up
Is his triumphant song

You thought Houdini was pretty fly
The famous escapologist
But Boris surely proved to be
The smartest self-apologist

In Biblical times it was Lazarus
Rising miraculously from the grave
But our blonde hero showed his worth
Fleeing from that narrow shave

He lives to fight another day
Defeating every rival
Who cares what anybody thinks?
No threat to his survival

So love or hate we’re stuck with him
He’ll bask in unending limelight
And we’ll just have suffer it
For the last thing Boris is, is contrite

Ken Fisher
Previous Poem on this theme
Don’t Bugger It Up!

Don’t Bugger It Up!

Don’t Bugger It Up!

It’s a rather modest ambition
That when you’ve gained a new position
A job with more responsibility
At the limits of your ability

And imposter syndrome a nagging thought
Makes the situation fraught
Perhaps the least that you can hope
No matter what, you’ll learn to cope

You need a little self- belief
Optimism brings relief
Ignore those who would regale
With dire warnings how one can fail

Apparently top politicians
Churchill and Boris, with great ambition
Drank a toast using these words
“Don’t Bugger it Up” their resolution!

It is for you to judge if they succeeded

Ken Fisher

 

The Massive Indifference of the Universe

The Massive Indifference of the Universe

One of Thomas Carlyle’s characters describes a
“Universe…..Void of all life, of Purpose, of Volition,
Even of Hostility………”

Have you ever thought whether the Universe cares
about us, or is massively indifferent to our plight
and predicament?

Of course you might respond by saying that
most of the time most of us humans
seem to be totally indifferent of the Universe

We might vaguely realise that here we exist on one
tiny planet, a satellite of our star the Sun, set within
our Galaxy the Milky Way whirling round within the
infinite void of space. But so what?

It seems to me that the issue of Indifference
is a human response. It signifies a lack of concern
or sympathy

Yet humans have indeed shown much interest in
the Universe – particularly through scientific
exploration or philosophical and
even theological musings
but have we noticed any reciprocal speculation
from the void?

So humans may not be totally indifferent but is
The Universe?

I suppose this matter of Indifference or concern
might be related to whether there is any Purpose
in the Universe. Why was it created [if indeed it
was actually created] and what is it for?

It seems to me that it is Humankind [in however limited
a way] which has taken the intiative to make sense
of what the cosmos is all about, and as a result
of such hypothesising has begun to wonder
what’s the point? Are we the only ones that care?

But humans don’t give up hope.

 

Ken Fisher

 

 

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday

On Thursday of that Holy Week
The Saviour washed disciples feet
In humility we might imitate
His divine example replicate

Love one another His command
Responding to their outstretched hand
Turn not away what e’er the need
With listening ear the stranger heed

On Maundy Thursday the sovereign’s gift
May loyal subjects’ souls uplift
That they in turn show their compassion
In kindly deeds in similar fashion

On Holy Thursday the commemoration
Of our Lord’s supper the foundation
Henceforth recall His life and sacrifice
For human sin He paid the price

Ken Fisher

Reflecting Back/Exploring Forward

Reflecting Back/Exploring Forward

The life of the mind is two-dimensional
On the past, reflecting back
On the future, exploring forward
Memories and speculation

The past, cavalcade of images
From childhood to old age
The future, a shorter focus
From to-day until when? Who knows?

Past reflections, echoes of joy
Interwoven with times of trial
The future? The past no guarantee
Of what may yet lie ahead!

The past cannot be undone
For good or ill, the record stands
The future waits to be explored
Fearfully unpredictable, not without hope

The past is gone, the future not yet
The only reality – the present
Savour every instant
Turn them to good account

Thus each moment adds to history
Together with past and future
Penning the script of
Auto-biography

Ken Fisher

The Wrecking Ball

The Wrecking Ball

 

The wrecking ball has struck our lives again
‘Midst cherished hopes of a world at peace
Invasion on Europe’s eastern flanks
From tyranny a prayer for release

The wrecking ball swung with relentless force
Who can this weighty pendulum  resist?
Appeals to reason or appeasement unavail
Might and justice fail to coexist

Will this wrecking ball sound the death knell
Of post war tenuous years of truce?
A renewed Cold War the best we can expect?
Living precariously with this new truth

Ken Fisher

 

Keep the Heid and Haud Yer Wheesht

Keep the Heid and Haud Yer Wheesht

When by world events you’re overwhelmed
By screaming kids you’re round the bend
Inside, you’re begging ‘gie me peace’
Just keep the heid and haud yer wheesht

When you’re caught up in argy-bargy
Any concession rather tardy
No forgiveness not the least
Just keep the heid and haud yer wheesht

When all around is gloom and doom
For happy thoughts there seems no room
Inside you’re pleading for release
Just keep the heid and haud yer wheesht

When politicians shout and squabble
TV debates become a rabble
With little light and too much heat
Just keep the heid and haud yer wheesht

When ranting preachers point the finger
Our pleasures they would surely hinder
From protestation be released
Just keep the heid and haud yer wheesht

With all that would our lives disturb
Knee-jerk reactions we should curb
A moment’s thought might tame the beast
Just keep the heid and haud yer wheesht

Such approach no cowardly plea
Perhaps more a pause to wait and see
E’er retaliation is unleashed
Just keep the heid and haud yer wheesht

Ken Fisher

 

 

 

 

 

By Nature and By Grace

By Nature and By Grace

 

From whence cometh what we are?
By nature or by grace
The formation of this earthly life
Mysterious to trace

Some claim nature the defining force
Others cling to nurture
Might grace have any part to play?
Enquires the pious searcher

Nature dictates the frame we have
Nurture moulds behaviour
But grace invokes a higher power
Gratis from our Saviour

Most accept the role that’s played
Nature and nurture enshrined
Perhaps ideal is manifest
As those with grace combine

Ken Fisher

Post Truth Society 2022

Post Truth Society – 2022

It has been claimed
That truth has gone
The victim of modern living
It no longer matters
What we say
The world will be forgiving

But not just in words
In actions too
In every task that we should do
With ease, who cares
We simply bluff
Our way right through

When truth takes flight
And fiction rules
No-one knows what to believe
No longer sure
Of falsity or verity
Duplicity shaped to deceive

If truth is only relative
Dependent on the context
How then define propriety?
Fake news, white lies
Flights of fancy, the currency of
Our post truth society

And right now in politics
Where porky pies abound
Virtue stands deflowered
As leaders breach their rules
Governance devoid of truth
And we ask, by what power?

Ken Fisher