Converts (Poetry)

My brother used to sound a little crazy
his ideas too extreme and off-the-wall
we humoured him — poked fun at his predictions
that’s if we paid him any heed at all

He had a host of theories about governments
how democracy was nothing but a lie
that freedom was a myth and sheer hypocrisy
the whole house of cards would tumble, by and by

Well, no one took much notice. We all carried on
although unease was spreading — eating through
when every yardstick we imagined we were sure of
vanished — simply disappeared from view

The game has changed. Now days are strange and empty
it’s hard to know just who we can believe
new laws and regulations only complicate
divide opinion, baffle and deceive

My brother sighs. It’s really no surprise to him
and he doesn’t need to say ‘I told you so!’
The world’s a mess and revolution’s overdue
We should have listened to him years ago