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MEN WITHOUT AMNESTY poem in selection of poems on various topics and themes, including America, Japan, Malawi and Guantanamo.
This MEN WITHOUT AMNESTY poem is part of the Genghis Lotus Poetry Collection, a selection of poems free to read online. The collection includes school poems, city poems, nature poems, war poems, cancer poems, death poems, and, additionally, other poems, assorted poems on various topics and themes, this being one of those other poems. Webmaster for this site is poet Hugh Cook, born in Britain, educated in New Zealand, and the author of, amongst other works, the fantasy series Chronicles of an Age of Darkness. |
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short poems |
school poems |
city poems |
nature poems |
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war poems |
cancer poems |
death poems |
other poems |
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Paperback Book or US $5 PDF file |
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They are masters of the smoked-glass stare.
They may be untutored men, But they are well-versed in the scholarship of pain. They are descended by lineage of motive From the Inquisition — Heresy is necessary to consolidate dogma. If it will not arise spontaneously, Then it must be cultivated, Or rooted out of hiding — Rumors, bribes, stool-pigeons and microphones May prove the most self-righteous deviant. If all else fails, Then random truncheons in the street Will provide the necessary quota. The law is their sanction: When that fails, there is still tradition. Orthodox terror Is a classical function of the Church and the Party. They seem remote from other men. Often they are known only As blind shadows in the corona of searchlights, As relentless voices in the hours of delirium, Or as boots enforcing the rhythms of progress In the corridors of execution. Day after day they record, with professional composure, The autobiography of the scream. But they, too, are human, And conscience gives no amnesty. One weakens, and his treason Ends in a white arc of agony — He was too clumsy to escape detection. Another Continues at his work, A white-coated father-figure of calm. But wakes at night in a sweated bed, Listening to the silent screams Shaking his room in the null hours of night. |
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May be photocopied for classroom use |
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