Today while browsing the selection of poetry blogs so generously compiled each week by Dave Bonta, I came to this post by Jackie Wills. She draws attention to the malignant influence of hedge funds, which are making huge profits from food shortages. Reading it in the aftermath of Jim's wake (see previous post) led me to write the villanelle below.
The gods are getting drunk tonight
The gods are getting drunk tonight
they're sick and tired, and what is more
they've lost the will to put things right.
Looking down from Olympian height
they know we're rotten to the core
and they are getting drunk tonight.
Profits are soaring out of sight.
Gods can no longer help the poor;
they see no way to put things right.
Apollo's squiffy; Zeus is tight;
Hephaestos limps in with a roar -
they'll drink the cellar dry tonight.
They sense there will be no respite
from human cruelty and war;
the gods can't hope to put things right.
It isn't all sweetness and light -
being immortal is a chore.
The gods are getting drunk tonight;
they've lost the will to put things right.
Ama Bolton 22 April 2023
PS I will be one of the readers at Contextual-17 on Zoom on Thursday, April 27th at 7.30pm British Summer Time.
One hour, five poets. For an invitation fill in the online form here
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