ELECTED
For safe keeping
they split the truth
into manageable pieces.
They hid some
between silence and promise,
let it grow to myth.
Hid some between action
and contrived headline
changing its shape.
Hid some between hearing
and interpretation,
made a new alphabet.
Hid some between wit
and pedantic speeches
to fool anyone listening.
Hid some between fact
and fiction it spawned
creating new policies.
They hid the truth so well
then lost the treasure map.
They never looked for it.
They reverted to excuses
not wanting to be judged.
Nobody asked for that.
Gordon Scapens – Widely published in various countries over many years in numerous magazines, journals, anthologies and competitions, most recently first prize in the Brian Nisbet poetry award. His book ‘History Doesn’t Die’ came out last year.