Final Warning (Poetry)

The man over there with the placard shouts
‘Beware! — The end is nigh!’
the smart ones know only too well
the damning reason why
there’s no way out
our fragile boats are well and truly burnt
now listen to the pay-off — what
all mankind’s sins have earnt

He walks unfriendly city streets
his stark message printed black
while the passers-by ignore him
show a blank determined lack
of interest — like it surely can’t
nor in the least apply
to them so duck away — avoid
that wildness in his eye

He cannot sway them — not for all
his harsh dramatic words
their thoughts are busy elsewhere — off
like homeward-flocking birds
the parting crowd gives him a wide
deeply suspicious berth
and leave him isolated like
the last sane man on Earth