GOUGH

I remember that day in black and white -

For the world was drained dry of colours

By the men of money-worries and limitations,

Backed by the looters of imaginations.

Over a thousand sleeps before

We celebrated a beginning

That only you could invent.

From day one the changes rang

And our country joined the nations.

So many forces were riled and irate

That the progress was clearly good.

In the following years of crash through

We learned the meaning of reform.

You led us into new avenues

And you smashed the dreary norm.

The headlines railed against you

And your own undermined you;

But we still have the prizes –

Nobody dismantled the best of you.

On the day of betrayal

I stood on the triangle’s lawns

Utterly astonished by your dignity.

I still hoped summer was about to begin

But instead dreaded winter was inducted.

Today the traitorous mongrel praises you

In his infinite hypocrisy.

On that day he murdered you

And would have killed us all

In order to steal your power.

Your grace and serenity saved us.

The election was a farce,

Hip-pockets jangling with cadence

And ignorance paraded as prudence.

Again you stood tall and placid,

Though replaced by a fool

With a mind so flaccid

That he could only gloat,

Pouring acid on aspiration –

Fear mongering -

Promising manacles and meanness.

Now, today, we mourn a great man.