IF…(revisited 2023)

IF…You can keep your head when you’re surrounded by fucking idiots who blindly believe
If you can fall and get up, when motherfuckers who should know better repeatedly knock you down
If you dream of a future where no one goes hungry, or without the basic, important things that everyone needs
If your head spins from lies, corruption and greed, from sources empowered, trusted as news.
If you care about kindness and feel pain when others are hurt due to the ignorance and selfishness of those who are unkind.
If you respect life and are sickened when people and animals suffer cruelty at the hands of inhumane humans.
If you believe in equality and justice for everyone, and live in horror or fear at the hateful deeds of those who profit on racism and exploitation of the poor.
If everything going on seems an insane new normal, each new insanity making the last one seem comfortable.
If this world is not one you prefer, and the fuckheads in power seem doomed to make things worse
If making things better still seems important, even after all we’ve all been through

Then remember one thing,
my friend you must be
For so many have eyes
but refuse to be able to see
through the lies to the truth on the table
in Freedom’s last light
We squint into nothingness
Pretending it’s too fucking bright

Original poetry by Jamie Gray (with apologies to Rudyard Kipling)