Photography: Joel Robison
We are pawns in this
political game
moving to & fro,
invisible faces
spinning left & right,
our voices tamed
We are strings pulled by media blame
running up & down, an endless
chase
Because we are pawns in
this political game
We work dawn to night, trading
our name
For grey, no black &
white pieces
spinning left to right,
our voices tamed
By street banners, which
all look the same
We sweep aside real issues
under the table
Because we are pawns in
this political game
Marching to orders, we claim
we are happy to live in
this rich city, a place,
spinning neither left nor right,
our voices tamed
Tell
me, black bird
which
way is the voting booth ?
I am just a pawn in this
political game
spinning round & round, my voice tamed
Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - We are talking about news ~ Hosted by Mary ~ Thanks for the visit ~
nice but hard truth in this....the pawns, surely we are, pulled by promises that rarely come to fruition and by media as well...voices tamed....sadly, thus the high level of voter dissatisfaction and falling poll rates...
ReplyDeleteYep, all smoke and mirrors as nothing but pawns we all are
ReplyDeleteTo be pawns we are convinced to vote.. mostly against something we don't like alas... and alas the against is so much less nice than voting for something. I like your Villanelle...
ReplyDeleteYes, it seems that we are pawns in many ways, Grace. Promises are made in the campaigns to lure voters, and after the elections how many of those promises are carried out. And sometimes we do spin around and around, it seems, wondering who the right candidate is....and often both black and white fade to grey.
ReplyDeleteAh - that great game and us the pawns. You bring it beautifully. If I could tell you half the drama and social manipulation that goes on in my country, it could be a novel...
ReplyDeleteHope you are doing good - I have been thinking to mail you for a long time, just not getting the time.
Pawns or Paladins? Are we what we perceive, or what we are perceived as by the powers that be? Too many of my friends do not vote in protest to the reality of the political games & maneuvering; & yet that way despots are born, progress is stifled, freedoms are at risk; no easy answer, just vote your conscience.
ReplyDeleteGreat use of the form, Grace! We do indeed feel like pawns more often than not. Sadly the feelings this creates is not the sign of healthy democracies.
ReplyDeleteYou have it right! We are pawns!
ReplyDeleteAnd the game that is being played, doesn't seem to have any rules. And the referees, or supreme court judges are playing way out in left field.
DeletePawns we are in this game of life, absolutely. I especially enjoyed your photo, it just drew me in.
ReplyDeletegreat write very timely and picture appropriate... off to the polls to see what comes of broken promises
ReplyDeletePawns we are, great capture.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully done Grace and I agree, we are pawns in a game of empty promises, still hoping one will speak the truth.
ReplyDeleteI believe that people get the government they deserve - and when masses don't vote their conscience, viola....
ReplyDeleteI can almost interpret some of the bad habits of politics like corruption (spinning neither left nor right --but at the will of the ones in power). I like the use of contrasts giving a wider definition to the pulls and pushes of the pawns by politicians.
ReplyDeletewe claim that we are happy to live in this rich city
ReplyDeletethat can only be reflected in medical statistics. eg. the number of anti depressants prescribed...in reality, very few people are happy in these rich cities!
A great truth brilliantly captured in this villanelle...the repetition works like magic...
ReplyDeleteWell.. i guess politics has always been much of a game.. for victors and losers.. but i think it's sad when news becomes the same...
ReplyDeleteAnd politics becomes the news..
instead of news.. reporting politics.. as news...:)
You tell the truth Grace. We are pawns indeed.
ReplyDeleteDear Grace
ReplyDeleteYes, it is true. Well told in your fantastic poem!
Hugs
JetteMajken
the harsh truth, isn't it?
ReplyDeletethe irony, the hypocricy....very well put Grace!
ReplyDeleteGreat metaphor, we are pawns in this political and financial game. Well written, Grace!
ReplyDeleteThese observations are tough to swallow but, sadly, true very often. I especially like this: "We sweep aside real issues under the table." I feel like this poem begs for some action.
ReplyDeletetrue we all are kind of pawns..very strong poem Grace
ReplyDeleteGroovy look at elections. Love the last stanza.
ReplyDeleteThe repetition and rhyme work so well to underscore your theme. Successful villainelle.
ReplyDeleteWe are but pawns Grace, most of the time I doubt we are aware of being so. Excellent poem.
ReplyDelete"We are strings pulled by media blame"....you are so right, Grace. We are pawns affected by the stringently controlled news broadcasts, who are not allowed to tell us much of the real truth. You must be as horrified as I am tonight, after this day's events.
ReplyDeleteWell said.
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahahahahaha About 5/5ths of the politicians around here wish my voice was tamed. I love when the left calls and I tell them I am right and when the right shows up at my door (with body guards) I tell them I am left. In this city of dissatisfaction it is never convenient to not vote, but so many will find that inconvenience is too tiresome. Mostly because of the functional illiteracy.
ReplyDeleteWell said, love the Vilanelle form for this back and forth, round and round subject.
ReplyDeleteAh...to be players instead of pawns, wouldn't that be nice once in a while? But I suppose even a pawn can be promoted eventually...
ReplyDeleteYou are politically correct ... :) love how you stated this...
ReplyDeletepeace and love
1ManView
Love this. Very well done.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the play off opposites strewn throughout...another nicely penned villanelle.
ReplyDelete