know the drill
Drafted in from other places
beating unfamiliar faces
Keepers of the peace
Police
That's the theory:
There and here, we
expect protection
get subjection
Saw that theory
cracked in practice
Dragged and kicked
grabbed and nicked
Keepers of the peace
Police
That facade's
been shattered
Charged and battered
punched and batoned
Washed away in voters' blood
Nipped in Catalunya's bud
Hammered homeward in detention
Spread the word, pay attention
Homework session
Spanish lesson
© Janine Booth
Janine Booth lives in Hackney, East London, and writes and performs poetry. She has had three slim volumes of poetry published, and posts poems and political polemics at www.janinebooth.com
