European Union?

By the time the referendum arrives,
Our decision may be irrelevant.
There may no longer be a European Union to stay in
Even if we want to.
The union is being tested.
Syria’s war is our war.
Its people are fleeing to us.
Desperate people
Exchanging one war-torn area for another.
It’s a different kind of war, but it’s still a war.
One of harsh words and closed borders
Within Europe as well as on the edges.
Rejection from every country
Not just their own.
Refugees are not wanted here.
Europe fears letting them in will let terror in.
But terror is already here.
Frustration and anger,
Anger bred by fear.
Terrified individuals and terrified families
Looking for a future.
There isn’t one.
Babies born on the road
Have no home or nationality.
There is nowhere they belong.
No home to return to;
No home to go to.
Nowhere to shelter.

The Beach A-Z

Approach the beach

Beat the sand

Crumble the castle

Dig a hole

Eat ice-cream

Fish in the sea

Gamble your pennies

Have fun

Invite friends

Jump the waves

Kick the sand

Lick the ice-lolly

Make another castle

Need a flag

Open the basket

Picnicking for lunch

Queue for the loo

Run from the rain

Sing for the sun

Tempt it to shine

Umbrellas at the ready

Venture forth

Win the race

X marks the spot

Yawn as the day ends

Zzzzz.....

 

Where? Nowhere.

I wrote this poem last year. I think it is almost more relevant now than it was then. So here it is again...

Where do you go when no-one wants you?

Who do you turn to when you have nothing?
When everything you ever knew has been destroyed.

When the line between life and death is paper thin,

When the journey to safety is fraught with danger,
And when safety won’t let you in.

When the Convention of Human Rights no longer seems to apply.

When the United Nations no longer seem united.
And the European Union is in disarray.

How do you comfort your children

When you are as scared as they are?

When the only thing left to lose is your life

And nobody is willing to save it.
Where do you go?