Adrift

 

“The world is a raft sailing through space with, potentially, plenty of provisions for everybody; the idea that we must all cooperate and see to it that every-one does his fair share of the work and gets his fair share of the provisions seems so blatantly obvious that one would say that no one could possibly fail to accept it unless he had some corrupt motive for clinging to the present system.”

George Orwell, The Road to Wigan Pier, 1937

 
They came – a few hundred, not thousands as claimed

Fleeing fear and persecution – they should not be blamed.

Desperate people, not a swarm, horde or flood

Just like you and me, made of flesh and blood.

 

Ils sont arrivés – quelques centaines, ce n’est son pas des milliers  selon

Qui fuyaient la peur et la persécution – ils ne devraient pas être blâmés

Des gens désespérés pas un essaim, une horde, ou une inondation

La même chose que vous et moi, de chair et de sang.

 
The Express and Daily Mail bleat unsparing, vile attacks

Some people are sadly taken in by lies of right-wing hacks.

You might think World War III was on its way

If you read the tabloid press – so we need to sway

 
«Aujourd’hui en France>> avec des attaques viles, impitoyables

Malheureusement certains croisent les mensonges de la droite.

Vous pourriez penser que la troisième guerre mondiale était sur son chemin

Si vous lisez la presse tabloïd donc nous aurons besoin de tangeur

 

the balance back – fight for the oppressed and the poor.

Unify against bosses, politicians who waged war

Which created refugees; dispossessed, homeless –

It was not poor people who got us into this mess.

 

lutter pour les opprimés et les pauvres.

S’unifier contre les boss, les politiciens qui font la guerre

Qui a créé des réfugiés; dépossédés, sans-abri:

Ce ne fut pas de pauvres gens qui nous ont mis dans ce pétrin.

 

Immigrants were not responsible for the financial crisis

While bankers rake in billions, the media divides us.

We need solidarity, not racism against fictitious “angry mobs”

Who are no threat in reality, just want the chance to get jobs.

 

Les migrants ne sont pas responsables de la crise financière

Alors que les banquiers râtissent des milliards, les médias nous divisent.

Solidarité, contre le racisme fictif «des foules en colère»

Qui sont pas une menace en réalité , ils veulent une chance de trouver un emploi.

 

But they cannot work, just get by on an Azure card

Only accepted in certain places. Bureaucracy gone mad.

The system treats the asylum seeker like a criminal

No independence, singled out – the message is subliminal.

 

Mais ils ne peuvent pas travailler, juste obtenir une carte Azure

Seulement accepté dans certains magasins. Bureaucratie devenue folle.

Le système traite le demandeur d’asile comme un criminel

Pas d’indépendance, persecuté – le message est subliminal.
 

And the police respond with Operation Stack

COBRA is convened: we are under attack.

The refugee is dehumanised, feared by all and sundry

But millionaires are fêted, when they come to the country.
 

Et les flics réagissent avec l’Opération Stack

Le comité d’urgence est convoqué: nous sommes sous la menace.

Le réfugié est déshumanisé, craint par toute l’humanité

Mais les millionnaires sont acclamés, quand ils viennent au pays.
 
 

If you have enjoyed my poetry on this blog, my new collection, “Little Green Poetry” is now available from Lulu – – £4+P&P (paperback) or £2.50 (for e-book readers)

You can still order copies of my first collection, “Little Red Poetry” from http://www.leftbooks.co.uk or http://www.lulu.com – again for £4 (pb) or £2.50 (as a pdf for e-readers).

I hope you enjoy reading my poems, and, as always, all proceeds will go to help build the fightback against corporate political parties, to build a voice for the millions, not the millionaires.

To find out more about my politics, visit the website of the Committee For A Workers’ International, which is engaged in struggle in around 50 countries worldwide.

Tags: asylum, calais, immigration, Politics