For Whom The Bell Tolls (The Centre Seethes)

At The Bell,

summoned by the toxic tocsin

of click-bait, hot-take

pseudo-politics,

proud under flags and banners

emblazoned with broken English slogans

are the disenfranchised and disillusioned, 

the deaf to argument, the dead to empathy,

and the balaclava-ed bravos

lifting their boots to cars. 
 

And parliament's tone deaf ear 

hears nothing but the dynamo hum

of the broken wheels of industry, 

tries to pretend Britain is still imperious,

sends the Police left and right

to quash demonstrations peaceful and not so

- unless or until populism eats itself. 

Meanwhile the centre seethes,

the c-word dying on their lips -

the idea that dare not speak its name:

compromise.