Loss of Freedom of Speech

The way things are going the time will soon come

When people who think will be forced to be dumb,

And not say aloud what they know to be true,

If a government feels that they don’t like their view

On a whole range of topics, which stretch very wide,

And the government takes on itself to decide

What people can say, or can write in the press,

So thinkers must operate under duress,

Omitting to say what they really believe,

While hating the series of lies they must weave.

But freedom of speech has been part of the law

Of most modern countries for ages before

The start of the twenty-first century change,

When topics forbidden can now often range

From religion to politics, people and race,

So many subjects don’t now have a place

For open discussion, with sharing of views,

Leaving their hearers to listen and choose

What they feel’s right from the things they have heard,

Without all the arguments forcefully blurred

By fairly strict censorship, which always seeks

To curtail the freedom of a thinker who speaks.

Tackling Stress through Self-Employment

What we need is much less stress

Caused by constant busyness

With things outside our own control;

It really needs to be our goal

To be in charge of what we do,

Something that will be quite new

To all who slave at others’ call,

With little choice, or none at all,

In how they organise their days,

Just doing what the boss man says,

Often over-worked but still,

Feeling they can’t leave the mill,

Forgetting that there still survives

A group who have less stressful live,

Who’ve decided that for them,

Self-employment is a gem;

Their income may not be as large,

But it means that they’re in charge.

Achieving Goals

Time is swiftly moving on

And soon the year will be half gone;

And when you look at where you are,

What have you achieved so far?

Some can say they’ve done a lot,

Filled in every intended slot.

Others may have done a bit,

As through each day they quickly flit;

But too many people will have to say

All their time’s been frittered away,

Just idly living without an aim,

With every passing day the same.

The Post

Some older people say the postman never brings them any mail,

So why is it that in the mornings, almost daily, without fail,

I receive a pile of letters, not just bills but other things

Of many varied shapes and sizes, which my friendly postman brings?

Letters from old friends and family, those to whom an email still

Remains a strange and modern mystery, and a quite un-needed skill.

Catalogues from shops I’ve bought from, often ages in the past,

Hoping that another order might be sent their way at last.

Charities I once supported, sending details of their work,

With requests for further monies, also in the pile might lurk.

Various types of information, that’s produced by local groups

Letting people know about things, also through my front-door troupes.

Missives from those institutions which I actively support,

Charities whose work may range from babies’ welfare through to sport.

There is rarely any morning when there’s nothing in the post,

And from what the postman’s carrying, I receive the same as most.

Choice of Shoes

If one has many pairs of shoes

It’s often difficult to choose

The pair one feels would look the best,

As opposed to all the rest.

Should they match the skirt or blouse?

Or would a different shade arouse

Feelings one was very chic,

Which is something women seek.

Flats or heels – it all depends

Where one’s destination ends.

Heels are always very smart,

And of course they play a part

In giving women extra height,

So they’re more in people’s sight,

But as every woman knows,

They aren’t kind to knees and toes.

Flats are better if one must

Walk a lot, and isn’t fussed

About not looking quite so tall,

Especially if one is quite small.

Buckled, laced or just slip-on,

Or sandals now that winter’s gone;

It is so hard to choose a pair,

When there’s dozens sitting there.

So I think that I will make

A quick decision and just take

The nearest pair which looks okay

With my outfit for today.

Lying Politicians

We’re all aware that politicians often lie to get our vote,

Whatever are their thoughts in private, they put on a different coat,

When they’re out among the public, especially in election year,

Saying what they think the people in the country want to hear.

That’s the way to catch the voters, pretending that they share their views,

Hoping when it comes to voting, it is they whom they will choose.

Only afterwards they’ll discover, that their politician’s lied,

And their vote has gone to someone who has views they can’t abide,

And who’ll forget what he has promised once he has been voted in,

And his several years in office then is ready to begin.

The Importance of Free Speech

Very important is freedom of speech,

The right of all to proclaim and teach

The truth, however it may annoy,

Some of the people, who do not enjoy

The truth being told, and would prefer

That writers and artists would defer

To what they want, which is the right

To keep all criticism out of sight.

In many states at the present time,

To mock their leader’s  a serious crime,

Beside which many begin to pale,

With threats of a longish spell in gaol.

Many leaders are not keen

On truth being told, for that might mean

Their grubby lives and ways laid bare,

For they are all too well aware

Of just how much they have to hide,

To keep the people on their side.

But everywhere there’ll always be

Writers working to be free

And in their souls they truly long

To let the world know what is wrong.