western indifference

by india southgate.

 
You can't humanise them
Because you can't imagine who they are
But on New Year's Eve
When they are counting down
Broadcast to the world
On the same television
By the same journalists
You could pick out
With adept precision
Who had eaten their twelve grapes
For good luck
Who had worn pink underwear
Welcoming new love
Who had consumed enough champagne
Who looks a bit like your father
And look! Theres you,
Born a bit earlier 
Or a bit later 
waving to you
through the screen
to them you are the world.
in the way all things
must fossilise
under layers of soil
deciduous matter
and stone
the same people are there 
petrified.

[unpublished]

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