We’re in the grip of something;
We are not quite sure what.
It’s crew, so strange and shifty,
Is hatching some dark plot.
It once seemed so far from us,
But now starts to inject
Its bigotry and poison
In all it can infect.
It creeps beneath the radar
When attention is elsewhere;
With one grab it conditions
It’s prey inside its lair,
Releasing them emboldened
To stalk those who remain.
The grip is ever tightened
And will be so again.
Indoctrination misinformation conditioning comedy of menace bigotry poison body snatchers
Dear Stephen,
The Grip is a powerful metaphor for those unseen forces tightening around us without warning. Your poem captures that slow, almost invisible tightening that conditions and divides, making the threat all the more dangerous. It’s a vivid reminder of how easily influence can spread when we’re not paying close attention. Thank you for shedding light on this unsettling reality with such clarity.
Kind regards,
Rolph
It was never far from us,
always the enemy within;
look over there, those foreign folk
have come to steal your homes and jobs,
forget they flee the wars we've waged,
forget we've wrecked all you held dear,
your NHS that's on its knees,
your mental health that's in the bin,
look over there, at that failed state,
those terrorists we've armed for years,
the enemy is them, not us;
but you loved us so, forgot our sins,
and now you are the enemy within.
Your first two lines are the key lines here Stephen. It’s the implied threat that is more insidious than the actual outcomes.
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty, Stephen; as some of us are finding out too late.
If you wish to post a comment you must login.
This site uses only functional cookies that are essential to the operation of the site. We do not use cookies related to advertising or tracking. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
Stephen Gospage
Sun 27th Jul 2025 07:33
Thank you, Graham, Uilleam and Rolph. I have always been fascinated how certain beliefs or opinions spread, to the point that they become the accepted view. As you say, Graham, the threat can be more insidious than the outcome, especially given the fast-moving rumour mill of social media, but vigilance is required to push back against the erosion of freedoms etc.
And thanks to everyone who liked this poem.