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Poetry
The Our Shame and Glory Be
By Talisker
26 August 2006
This piece of parody was written some time ago, at the height of the US invasion of Iraq.  I still stand four-square behind the sentiments. 
For the unindoctrinated - the form mocks two Christian prayers.

Oli.


 

Our shame which art the cradle of civilisation,
Iraq be thy present name.
We made thy tyrant,
Satan’s will was done,
in Halabja as it was in Hiroshima.
Kneel before us each day in subjugation,
overlooking our wicked deeds.
So that we may mould you in our blessed image,
the better to control and bleed you.
And yet we can never be called evil.
For God is on our side, and ours is Babylonia,
The Euphrates, the Tigris and all the resources of your land, for ever and ever,
Amen.


Glory be to the liars, to the infidels, to white Christian supremacists,
As it was in the crusades, is now and ever shall be,
Hypocrisy without end.
Amen.

Reviews
Sermon on the Mount..
Written by gerardconnolly (1186 comments posted) 26th August 2006
Piece of advice Talisker. And the nice thing about free advice is that you are equally free to accept or reject it. 
 
I seem to like almost everything you post. But in this case I should forget the moralising and concetrate on the writing. That's the beast way to get a valid point across to a wider audience. I enjoy your style and you obviously feel strongly about this. Rather too strongly from my vantage point as it comes across somewhat 'unsubtle juvenile' and you are much too good a wordsmith to waste yourself or present yourself in that fashion. Look forward to somthing a little less Key Stage 2. 
 
My compliments to you. 
 
Slan!
Thanks for your honesty.
Written by Talisker (1326 comments posted) 26th August 2006
Its all about opinions gerard (gerry?) and I respect yours. Someone said that they are like bum-holes i.e. everyone has one. I can hardly choose between bouquets and brickbats - its the audience's choice what to throw. I accept both - graciously. 
 
Slainte, sonas agus beartas 
 

Written by Bottleblondesurfer (3352 comments posted) 26th August 2006
Sometimes a rant is all the more powerful when it is given some structure form and using the form of a well known prayer works well as it gives it irony and subtext. This for me makes up for teh lack of subtley and makes it a more complex piece than at first appears. And I do find a lot of poetry gets lost in lyricism and complextiy.Sometimes you just got to say it how it is. 
cheers 
Mrs B

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