Turn: a poetry post

This is a poem I wrote in response to The Prompt from Sara at Mum Turned Mom. I first wrote it thinking of the current situation in British politics, but in the darkness of the terrible event in Manchester recently it also speaks to that situation.

I am so sorry for all those who lost loved ones, who were hurt, who were terrorised by the bomb that went off in Manchester. 

I am also sorry for all of our young men and women whose fears are targetted by groups like ISIS. 

There is always an increase in racism and in anti-immigrant feeling after an event such as this, whipped up by those who wish to keep the people divided and voting for those that would keep the rich rich and the poor in 'their place'. We all get caught up in things, and it is always important to question our thoughts, as well as what we're told. 

We do not have to stay on this road to division and hatred. We can stop, help each other, just as the people of Manchester came together to help each other. 

We can choose not to believe that there is only one narrative.

Before I get poetical here is a link to Tony Walsh reading his awesome poem, 'This is the Place' to the thousands of people in Manchester who came together in a vigil after the bombing.


Turn

In troubled times
we tend to turn
to someone strong
to someone wrong
who will not stop
in their control,
who'll stand on us
to reach their goal,
so turn away,
there is still hope,
still time to join
together and
turn, turn away,
to use your vote
to stop this strong,
this unstable
force.    Of course
it will be hard
but turn away.
Turn now. Today.

Ⓒ Cara L McKee 15/5/17


I've done a wee Facebook live video of me reading this poem (I'm sorry, I cannot memorise poems for the life of me - I'm too full of ideas for writing the pesky things). Here it is: