They Can Only Do Harm

Cherry

By Turlough

Fri, 06 Feb 2026
  • 218 reads
19 comments
 

 

They Can Only Do Harm

 

I hear jackboots kicking down the doors, victims murdered at point blank

I hear horrific sounds of rockets, fighter jets and shells and tanks

I hear the piggy bank executives rattle piggies’ piggy banks

 

I hear dollars clink with roubles in the push to weaponise

I hear the futile stabs at praying from the imams, priests, rabbis

I hear noise beneath the rubble, mothers’ wails and babies’ cries

 

I hear flies buzz round the bodies as they rot and spread disease

I hear starving third-world children, and their parents’ hopeless pleas

I hear families’ footsteps fleeing death, unwanted refugees

 

I hear them say she’s dirty because her skin’s not white

I hear them say he’s queer and their god says that’s not right

I hear them say they’re missing, dragged out screaming in the night

 

I hear presidents and princes slap each other on the back

I hear men of wealth and power order sex slaves off-the-rack

I hear megalomaniac death threats, fall in line or we’ll attack

 

I hear not one word to give me hope, not a solitary drop

I hear nothing good from lying mouths, they quickly shut up shop

I hear only deadly silence when I ask this hell to stop

 

Image:

Firework night at Omurtag Aeronautics Park. My own photograph.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Certificate 12
Poem
Poetry in Commotion
Rant
Opinion
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by D G Moody on

Brilliant Turlough. For my sins I recognised the SA-2 Guideline - the pornography of war is ever present.

Dougie Moody

Submitted by Turlough on

Thanks Dougie.

Google sort of suggested to me that it was an SA-2 Guideline but I wasn't completely sure so I didn't mention it.

You probably can't see the detail on the picture on the ABC page but it's one of my favourite photographs from the thousands I've taken. There are two gypsy kids sitting on top of the missile and they've tied their dog with a piece of string to the base of it. Gobby but lovely kids they were.

Turlough

Submitted by D G Moody on

The kids sitting on it is serendipity, as maybe it could be beaten into a slide; and congrats on the cherries.

Dougie Moody

Submitted by Turlough on

Dear editor people. Thank you very much for the cherry award. 

Turlough

Submitted by celticman on

I didn't look at the photo. Or rather I glanced at it. Much like the rich and prividged see the poor and hopeless. Always expendable, in some great plan. 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

But the rich and privileged always take the time to take aim before they piss on the poor and hopeless.

Turlough

Submitted by marandina on

"I hear dollars clink with roubles in the push to weaponise"

An eloquent invective, Turlough.

The identity of the murderous regime is less clear now than it ever was. 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

It seems to me Paul that there's a big poisonous sea of evil and someone from just about every country in the world has a toe in it.At the moment the tide's coming in fast.

Turlough

Submitted by Makis on

Cheer up Turlough. When was it not always thus? It's like tinnitus, you can't stop it and you can't pretend it's not there, so you learn to fade it out with better music.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I'm cheerful enough to get by thanks Makis. You're right, the hatred and the avarice have always been there but the situation appears to have worsened every time I watch the news. Is there music to fade out leprosy?

Turlough

Submitted by Makis on

Perhaps not, but there's certainly music to get under the skin. https://youtu.be/3aPDpfQ7V3Q?si=gjwPZSayA_Z7t6B6

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Lovely stuff. Thank you. He was a clever lad that Frédéric Chopin.

Turlough

Submitted by Makis on

He certainly was and all while in exile from oppression and war.

 

Submitted by Turlough on

I have a fair bit of his music on CD which I listen to from time time to time. 

When my partner moved in with me almost seven years ago she brought with her a 170 CD (no exaggeration) box set of the Complete Works of Mozart. So dear old Wolfgang's been hogging the limelight for a while.

Turlough

Submitted by Makis on

Wow! That's quite a collection. Mozart's output was phenomenal for someone who died aged thirty five, so to have everything in one collection is quite something.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Plenty of evil, and foolishness, and misjudgments (including our own, especially if hear false news),

but to hear of good going on you have to look for it, it doesn't boast and advertise,

and to hear a word of hope you have to look in the right place too! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Of course I see goodness all around me but every day it's put more and more at risk by those in positions of power and wealth who thrive on hatred, greed and depravation. And while their genocide continues in places like Palestine and Darfur the poor people who live there need significantly more than hope.

Turlough

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Your poem is powerful and clear Turlough. War casts a shadow over so many, and you've skilfully written with passion and emotion your feelings.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Turlough on

Many thanks Jenny. It's not just the wars that worry me though.

Any road... chins up everybody... stay safe!

Turlough