This month, a powerful new poem resonated with many of us here in the Totally Dublin offices.
Poignant words, penned by young Dublin born poet and writer, Mikey Cullen.
We were moved, as were many others across Ireland and beyond, by this clarion call to reject the hypocrisy and division that is allowing it to fall apart. A reading of the poem, in conjunction with the separatist movement, the 1916 Societies, was widely shared online, bringing Mikey’s firebrand wordsmithery to new ears and eyes.
The simple fact of the systems in place, and the government’s ridiculous and stated “hands off” approach to far right groups, which openly serves to distract from their shortcomings, has lead to violence, arson and riots.
It’s simple. Everyone talking about migrants isn’t talking about the myriad failings our current government has overseen. As Fianna Fail and Fine Gael throw more public money at bike sheds and phone pouches, lining the pockets of themselves and theirs, it is important to remember where the problems really lie. Everyone angry at people rioting aren’t angry about the healthcare system, the broken housing system, and the fact that our government has done precisely nothing to assuage these issues.
Here, accompanied by an incredible illustration from legendary Donegal artist, Sean Fitzgerald, we are pleased to present you with this beautiful poem. Words – Adhamh Ó Caoimh
Let Us Peasants Burn All But The Keep, by Mikey Cullen
This town is burning
And some can’t see it
From atop their castle turrets,
Those in the fire can’t see the light
And those in high sky light don’t see the fire –
Though they fan the flames in many ways
It’s others that they blame,
The right do their bidding
To keep the towers intact,
Strawmen used to deflect
Bogeymen used to distract,
Men of impure ideology
With their avaricious-ness and duplicitous-ness
and
Their agendas of hypocrisy
Whip impressionable minds into frenzy,
-‘those lads there, that’s your enemy!
He wants your house, he covets your wife,
He’s the reason for all of your strife’ ,
Forget your housing, healthcare, social welfare
He’s going to take it all,
Meanwhile those up in the Castle untouched laugh at your conclusions,
Accumulating gold while you grow old
And point the finger elsewhere
They laugh, as the other side of the same coin
The one that they all cherish above life itself
Do their dirty work to distract from their plundering,
They laugh at us, the plebs below forgotten long ago
Yet their castle of cards kept stacked by our tax,
The root causes are forgotten as many are now begotten
To the hatred of another,
Who’s struggles, cares, dreams and love are the same as ours,
We burn ourselves,
and the memory of those who died in vain
With ideals incompatible with this current system
Though, their memories are used
By both the right and the government
How they manipulate and twist them
-See it suits the suits who have the power
For us to blame those coming from outside the walls,
It keeps the heat of the flames
From burning down
-the banks,
-the brokers,
-and the Dail,
See it’s not about wings, left or right
It takes both for birds to take air and flight.
Do not let them distract us
And burn ourselves while the castle stands tall,
Migrants aren’t the problem,
They’re the problem’s deflection of the problem,
It’s very easy to view life in black or white
But, life is far more often grey and complex than can be seen with sight,
Beware solutions that are convenient and expedient,
Don’t adopt American and British culture wars
To our vastly different historical and cultural shores,
The anger is justified but don’t let them conquer by divide just like the British done here before
And crown agents attempting to do again;
Many of these so called ‘patriots’ are nothing more
Than MI5 in disguise, they’re modern day G Men,
The housing crisis,
Homeless crisis,
Cost of living crisis,
Healthcare crisis
Are the problems.
We’re one of the wealthiest countries in the world
But that wealth, those at the top, the 1% hoard,
It’s not right that our youth can’t see a future in their home city and country
And that our doorways and alleyways are littered with people long ignored,
Greed is the problem.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are the problem.
Capitalism is the problem.
Fight the real enemy!
Words: Mikey Cullen
Art Work: Sean Fitzgerald
