Bonfire Night Beneath the Stars

Photo by ptwo (copied from Flickr)
Photo by ptwo (copied from Flickr)

Penny for the guy,
and the girl,
in the sleeping bag
on the doorstep
of a shop that made
£67.4 million pounds profit,
after avoiding tax,
in the financial year
2012-13,
ensuring the closure
of libraries, hostels and A&E units,
in the financial year
2013-14.

Hold the shivering to account,
as fireworks illuminate
their faces distressed,
torn, worn with memories of misfortune,
self-made in your eyes.

Approach your temple,
walk on proud,
and make sure
you don’t remember their face,
as you step over them,
to offer praise
and thanks for your blessings.

Forget that times have fallen
harder on them,
than the discomfort you feel,
walking past to preach and pray
and hear from God’s messenger
peace and justice for all.

Dominic Stevenson

About Dominic Stevenson

Dominic Stevenson is an English-born writer with his roots in the post-industrial north of England. His aim is to take part in the global discussions surrounding societal, gender, sexual and educational equality. His poetry and short stories have been published in a range of print and online publications including Poetry and Paint, Forward Poetry, The Cadaverine and Spontaneity Arts Journal. His first collection, The Northern Line, is due out in April 2015.

Dominic Stevenson is an English-born writer with his roots in the post-industrial north of England. His aim is to take part in the global discussions surrounding societal, gender, sexual and educational equality. His poetry and short stories have been published in a range of print and online publications including Poetry and Paint, Forward Poetry, The Cadaverine and Spontaneity Arts Journal. His first collection, The Northern Line, is due out in April 2015.

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