That's Politics And This Is Us

In October 2017 the BBC aired a documentary series where Simon Reeve travelled through Russia. One of the interviews that stuck with me was a woman called Tatiana who lived in a rural village north of Moscow that was slowly dying. This is not unusual, of course, having happened here as cities become wealthier and more attractive to young people. When questioned about the increasing tension with the west and whether we should be fighting, she made the comment "There's politics and there's us". How true that is.

That's Politics And This Is Us

In the heartlands of Russia
where state farms once held sway
cottages collapse
when the kids move away.
They leave behind old folk
and the villages die -
the only things left
are mosquitos and flies.

In Rio's favelas,
in South Central LA
where the roaches come calling
as night follows day.
In the war zones of Syria
where the dead children sigh
there's always a welcome
when hope goes to die. 

In the capital cities
where oligarchs rule
they always remember
who they have to fool.
When they feel threatened
by the forces within
they find a new enemy
and it all starts again. 

The elected dictator
of Moscow's new dawn
still curses the day
that Glasnost was born.
He ramps up the rhetoric
for a second Cold War,
the chess pieces move
and the walls rise once more.

We're told by our leaders
who we have to hate -
they press the buttons
that determine our fate.
Americans and Russians
in helmets and boots
have all the same problems
caused by leaders in suits.

In the sad Russian village
the woman just sighs
when asked of her feelings
and the arguments why
Westerners are enemies
and then become friends
then enemies once more -
a song without end

"It is as it will be
and it was ever thus
I just say - that's Politics,
and this is us.”

 Tim Fellows 2019

Image by Дмитрий Осипенко from Pixabay