I shall never get you to entirely understand

the distance so far between us.

A great, grand Liberal stood atop the head of a man

with no ears, mouth, or eyes.

An evil Want of post-war Britain ended

with Beveridge. But they make us want once again.

The small eyes, gap-toothed grin beneath balding head,

laughs without shame or remorse.

Please take it from us, take it all,

take our money, take our lives.

Cupped hands to a bowl

at the knee of the millionaire government.

But still you shall give and you shall take away.

If no money now lands in our hands, perhaps it

belongs to the men in Parliament. Taking and smiling.

It seems we shall want once again.

© Michael Holloway, 2013

 Benefits: taking money from the poor.

Michael was born in Liverpool in 1985. He completed his Masters in 2012. As well as poetry, he writes short stories and hopes to get his first novel published soon. His blog is http://thehyperkarma.blogspot.co.uk/

In the sunlight

on Place de la Bastille

fallen, like a statue

you lie

one full leg

one half stumped

in streeted combats

stretched out

one boot,

an anorak,

unkempt face

asleep in the unexpected

a butterfly cleaves

to your reclining body.

© Maureen Daly

French more anti-capitalist than the Chinese - poll
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Maureen's work has appeared in Anthologies and in a publication of the White house poets. She has also been published in a Ledwidge competition.
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Editor's note: It was Bastille Day yesterday in France. Maureen says: The dreams of liberty, equality and fraternity have yet to be realised for the majority of the world's population.