Let Us Peasants Burn All But The Keep – A Poem By Mikey Cullen


Posted 3 weeks ago in Arts & Culture Features

This month, a powerful new poem resonated with many of us here in the Totally Dublin offices.

Poignant words, penned by young Dublin born poet and writer, Mikey Cullen.

We were moved, as were many others across Ireland and beyond, by this clarion call to reject the hypocrisy and division that is allowing it to fall apart. A reading of the poem, in conjunction with the separatist movement, the 1916 Societies, was widely shared online, bringing Mikey’s firebrand wordsmithery to new ears and eyes.

The simple fact of the systems in place, and the government’s ridiculous and stated “hands off” approach to far right groups, which openly serves to distract from their shortcomings, has lead to violence, arson and riots.

It’s simple. Everyone talking about migrants isn’t talking about the myriad failings our current government has overseen. As Fianna Fail and Fine Gael throw more public money at bike sheds and phone pouches, lining the pockets of themselves and theirs, it is important to remember where the problems really lie. Everyone angry at people rioting aren’t angry about the healthcare system, the broken housing system, and the fact that our government has done precisely nothing to assuage these issues.

Here, accompanied by an incredible illustration from legendary Donegal artist, Sean Fitzgerald, we are pleased to present you with this beautiful poem. Words – Adhamh Ó Caoimh

Let Us Peasants Burn All But The Keep, by Mikey Cullen

This town is burning

And some can’t see it

From atop their castle turrets,

 

Those in the fire can’t see the light

And those in high sky light don’t see the fire –

 

Though they fan the flames in many ways

It’s others that they blame,

 

The right do their bidding

To keep the towers intact,

Strawmen used to deflect

Bogeymen used to distract,

 

Men of impure ideology

With their avaricious-ness and duplicitous-ness

and

Their agendas of hypocrisy

Whip impressionable minds into frenzy,

 

-‘those lads there, that’s your enemy!

He wants your house, he covets your wife,

He’s the reason for all of your strife’ ,

 

Forget your housing, healthcare, social welfare

He’s going to take it all,

 

Meanwhile those up in the Castle untouched laugh at your conclusions,

Accumulating gold while you grow old

And point the finger elsewhere

 

They laugh, as the other side of the same coin

The one that they all cherish above life itself

Do their dirty work to distract from their plundering,

 

They laugh at us, the plebs below forgotten long ago

Yet their castle of cards kept stacked by our tax,

The root causes are forgotten as many are now begotten

To the hatred of another,

Who’s struggles, cares, dreams and love are the same as ours,

 

We burn ourselves,

and the memory of those who died in vain

With ideals incompatible with this current system

 

Though, their memories are used

By both the right and the government

How they manipulate and twist them

-See it suits the suits who have the power

 

For us to blame those coming from outside the walls,

It keeps the heat of the flames

From burning down

-the banks,

-the brokers,

-and the Dail,

 

See it’s not about wings, left or right

It takes both for birds to take air and flight.

 

Do not let them distract us

And burn ourselves while the castle stands tall,

Migrants aren’t the problem,

They’re the problem’s deflection of the problem,

It’s very easy to view life in black or white

But, life is far more often grey and complex than can be seen with sight,

 

Beware solutions that are convenient and expedient,

Don’t adopt American and British culture wars

To our vastly different historical and cultural shores,

The anger is justified but don’t let them conquer by divide just like the British done here before

 

And crown agents attempting to do again;

Many of these so called ‘patriots’ are nothing more

Than MI5 in disguise, they’re modern day G Men,

 

The housing crisis,

Homeless crisis,

Cost of living crisis,

Healthcare crisis

Are the problems.

 

We’re one of the wealthiest countries in the world

But that wealth, those at the top, the 1% hoard,

It’s not right that our youth can’t see a future in their home city and country

And that our doorways and alleyways are littered with people long ignored,

 

Greed is the problem.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are the problem.

Capitalism is the problem.

Fight the real enemy!

Words: Mikey Cullen

Art Work: Sean Fitzgerald

Cirillo’s

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