Power To the People (?) (Poetry)

If we thought it would make any difference
we would probably make enough time
to share all our hopes and our worries —
our fears about violence and crime.

But most of us long ago realised
our voices — opinions and such
get lost in a mass of statistics
and nobody cares overmuch.

The idea that someone might listen
is novel — but we’re now resigned
to a blinkered society guided
by those who themselves are near-blind.

Talk is their ongoing answer —
so toss the poor peasant a bone
the gravy is promised for later —
but words aren’t enough on their own.