Remains Of Love - Ian Duquemin

Was my touch so repulsive, you scrubbed me away?
And my company so cruel, it caused you to stray
Did the structure we build, turn to rubble then sand?
That spills from the palm of your hand

Was my love so destructive? A drug forced to take
The heart you once dwelled in, abandoned to break
Were the feelings you gave me, on loan for a time?
Returned, as they never were mine

Did the tears that I cried put a smile on your face?
The desire we shared now unholy disgrace
Do the memories of something remain in the past?
As shadows of doubt have been cast

I was lost when I found you, and lost once again
As all that I'm left with is sorrow and pain
The coldness I feel is a fate hard to bear
With the knowing you don't even care

Ian Duquemin

Off The Wall - John Carré Buchanan

"Runter von der Mauer"
the order barked to no avail.
Victory atop the Quadriga *
looked down at the multitude.
Water cannon fired, then stopped.
Confused guards stood agog
as gates were thrown asunder.
The stunned crowd
emboldened, found Freedom!
They surged through the gates and danced.
Hands reached high grasping pulling
feet scrabbling, as people climbed
to dance on the wall.
Shouts, cheers, and tears of joy as
revellers wielded hammers and picks
to tear down, to reunite.
Cameras rolled; the world marvelled
as amidst the melee
this symbol of oppression,
where so many lives were lost
was breached by a crowd
of cheering, dancing, Berliners.
One generation on and
barring a line of stone
you'd hardly know it existed,
A nation reunited and
the wall's been well and truly off'd.

John Carré Buchanan

* Chariot and four horse statue located atop the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

Melodrama - Lyndon Queripel

There’s the man they said was dead
He’s travelled so many miles
Glory shines above his head
His eyes sparkle as he smiles
He can see who we want to be
And who we really are

There’s the man who stays outside
The circle always seems to close
Once he tried to swallow his pride
But found his voice only froze
He can feel his wound will heal
But it will leave a scar

There’s the man who lost his mind
Now who is he trying to fool ?
Soon he’ll find he was blind
In a kind lesson that seems cruel
He does not know where to go
He’s already gone too far

There’s the man of destiny
Trying to make the connection
In the struggle to be free
And find a new direction
He won’t look above for any love
Or wish upon a star

There’s the man who never was
Did you hear him deny it ?
When asked to state his cause
He just remained so quiet
With no violence in the silence
There was only melodrama.

Lyndon Queripel

Amendment Not Required - Stephen A. Roberts

He could have been a hero
If he'd gone inside
To confront the shooter
But he'd have probably died

Check his job description
Does it say that he should die
In the line of duty
Or just keep watch outside?

But he could have been a hero
If he'd gone inside
Now he's just a zero
And he just wants to hide

He can only say he's sorry
"I shoulda gone inside"
To protect those children
Even if he died

Repeal the Second Amendment
Put the guns aside
Protect and serve those children
And no-one needs to die

Stephen A. Roberts

The Museum of Capitalism - Donald Keyman

They came from far and wide
to see the dream that died
the empty banking shells
above the Havelet swells
the tourist, eyes aghast
senses something has passed

he sees crumbling monuments to the greed
that replaced normal need
before the vision all turned sour
when its snake oil bitcoin power
turned everything to dust
because the value was less than cost

behind a street of dead boutiques
shining like valueless laliques
stand the rows of empty hutches
far beyond the proles' clutches
the lights are permanently dark
just like the silent data park

they are greeted by the guide
welcome to the museum, come inside
here capitalism is in the past
and the streets are clean at last
the squares and abandoned piers
have been washed with the donkey's tears

Donald Keyman