Melbourne Occupied

Melbourne Occupied

they wore black uniforms

when they came

in frightening numbers

although with all their gloves and helmets

you wondered if there was anyone inside

and then you saw their smiles

as they sprayed their victims

and you knew they were not ghosts

unless it be

they echoed down through time

the dumb force of the dark ages

spectres of proud ignorance

mounted on snorting chargers

incurious churls for whom free thought was a dire threat

and whose subservience to vested power

mocked any who might hope and question

they said they were liberating public space

by beating those who came to mingle there

having told the community to leave they fenced them in

preferring captivity to freedom

twisting ideas as they twisted limbs unnaturally

while dragging citizens across hard tarmac

and as they did their work

the people could not get near

their city square

left stained and shamed

its democratic hope forgone

the witless emperor

gloating from his balcony

drank in the sight of red blood

unaware his withered nakedness 

was seen by jpegs round the world

as he traduced the city over which he lorded

smashing its chance to find its soul

Melbourne!

who has occupied your heart

that you can treat your dreaming young

in this barbaric way?