deepundergroundpoetry.com
Red Carpet
The carpet under whom all is brushed
where secrets are hushed
and truths are mushed
dissenters crushed,
gushed forth
I am the carpet who must be sussed
if you would know what has been lost —
the hand-shake deals
and inner wheels
are such a steal
you’d never believe the knowledge I’ve got
the boiling pot, the stinking rot, the clever plot
of a president shot from a poor man’s squat
and what about the corporate spies
the pies in skies, the media lies?
Distractions from the hunger game
of childrens’ cries, it’s still the same
revolving doors, accounts off-shore, the rotten core
perpetuating rich and poor
and that’s not all, there’s more and more
not least the reasons for a war.
Remember this: I am the carpet under whom
it all is brushed … and - do - you - see - red?
I hope you do, for I am red right through and through
rolled out for bigwigs from a plane
or eco-posing from a train
more usually from a limousine
they step out posh and I protect
the soles of shoes to great effect,
their buff shines on, it won’t get scuffed
or crunching on some grit get roughed
I’m ever-so kind for out of sight is out of mind
I soften the blow
of contact
with the world below.
where secrets are hushed
and truths are mushed
dissenters crushed,
gushed forth
I am the carpet who must be sussed
if you would know what has been lost —
the hand-shake deals
and inner wheels
are such a steal
you’d never believe the knowledge I’ve got
the boiling pot, the stinking rot, the clever plot
of a president shot from a poor man’s squat
and what about the corporate spies
the pies in skies, the media lies?
Distractions from the hunger game
of childrens’ cries, it’s still the same
revolving doors, accounts off-shore, the rotten core
perpetuating rich and poor
and that’s not all, there’s more and more
not least the reasons for a war.
Remember this: I am the carpet under whom
it all is brushed … and - do - you - see - red?
I hope you do, for I am red right through and through
rolled out for bigwigs from a plane
or eco-posing from a train
more usually from a limousine
they step out posh and I protect
the soles of shoes to great effect,
their buff shines on, it won’t get scuffed
or crunching on some grit get roughed
I’m ever-so kind for out of sight is out of mind
I soften the blow
of contact
with the world below.
Published 1st Mar 2021
| Edited 11th Mar 2024
Author's Note
(photo credit: claudio-schwarz-purzlbaum-Xjp9CDaxAX8-unsplash)
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 15
reading list entries 9
comments 23
reads 951
Commenting Preference:
The author encourages honest critique.
Thank you Eerie. We humans I guess are all gifted with the ability to choose what we (want to) see. Our cat on the other hand always sees one thing - we have not lived up to her standards.
1st Mar 2021 10:26pm
4th Mar 2021 1:44pm
1st Mar 2021 10:51pm
Dear J,
Standing ovation. This poem has everything. I so enjoyed listening to you reading it. It’s so great to be able to engage with the author in this manner and not have to guess at meanings as we do studying those who have died. But, to hear it aloud by the author is such a treat. Fantastic message, fantastic performance. H🌷
Standing ovation. This poem has everything. I so enjoyed listening to you reading it. It’s so great to be able to engage with the author in this manner and not have to guess at meanings as we do studying those who have died. But, to hear it aloud by the author is such a treat. Fantastic message, fantastic performance. H🌷
H, it is wonderful to have such a dedicated fan 😊 💐. I need go no further to seek fame and fortune. I'm honoured again by the RL.
1st Mar 2021 11:14pm
This was delightful to read, and even more so to listen to. Superb writing (and reading!) Josh!
4th Mar 2021 1:47pm
1st Mar 2021 11:25pm
reminded me rather of louis macneice, the scatter gun rhymes, the political anger,
the irony, the comedy, the whole very fine piece
the irony, the comedy, the whole very fine piece
4th Mar 2021 1:51pm
Thank you Paul; RL means a lot. MacNiece, Hmmm, interesting comparison. I see what you mean. Thanks for pointing it out.
2nd Mar 2021 00:06am
Roll on the red carpet. I enjoyed your political commentary on all that's bad. Is that avatar how you are looking these days, Josh?
4th Mar 2021 1:53pm
Yeah, I've aged a lot recently but will pop a pill at the end of NaPo to regain my youthful looks. Glad you enjoyed the poem.
4th Mar 2021 2:07pm
I hope you win. It looks like you've been putting a lot of effort into it, lol. I would vote for you. 😊
2nd Mar 2021 4:28am
"If you would know what has been lost."
that's it, isn't it. Most don't know what has been lost and most don't care as long as they have theirs.
Superb, Josh.
hugs,
buddhakitty.
that's it, isn't it. Most don't know what has been lost and most don't care as long as they have theirs.
Superb, Josh.
hugs,
buddhakitty.
4th Mar 2021 1:56pm
Well, BK, you picked out the key line - smart. Each generation loses a bit more freedom but don't realise what's been lost - unless the older generation tells them and then they don't want to listen anyway, too busy being distracted with gadgets. And so it goes on, with time speeded up now since 1945.
2nd Mar 2021 11:16am
You put a lot of tender loving care into the rhythm of this and it paid off. Ahavati may have nominated it, but I'm rolling out the red carpet for you at the next Poet of the Peoples' Choice Award banquet.
There won't be anyone there this year except for cardboard cutouts and Zoom screens, but . . . the heck.
There won't be anyone there this year except for cardboard cutouts and Zoom screens, but . . . the heck.
4th Mar 2021 2:01pm
Thank you JB, and RL much appreciated. Yes, I practiced a few recordings with differing speed changes which improved the original reading it all very fast and rather breathless. Nice you noticed this aspect.
Poet of the Peoples' Choice Award? Is this an existing thing? Or an imagined future? (internet search proved indeterminate). Either way, I'll go with it. :))
Poet of the Peoples' Choice Award? Is this an existing thing? Or an imagined future? (internet search proved indeterminate). Either way, I'll go with it. :))
2nd Mar 2021 8:46pm
Nice write Josh. As I was reading the poem I thought of Colin Powell getting agreement from the UN to bomb Iraq ...
4th Mar 2021 2:04pm
Thank you AB. Glad you liked to politco summary.
Etched in my memory is Colin Powell on BBC news pointing at a blurry black & white "reconnaisance photo" and identifying the exact location where WMD were stored. A low point of his career, I think.
Etched in my memory is Colin Powell on BBC news pointing at a blurry black & white "reconnaisance photo" and identifying the exact location where WMD were stored. A low point of his career, I think.
7th Mar 2021 00:19am
Josh, that was simply amazing. You can drop a beat to this and outstanding bars.
You really brought different aspects of this item that tends to glamorize.
And you’re reading as always is one the best here.
Bravo sir.
You really brought different aspects of this item that tends to glamorize.
And you’re reading as always is one the best here.
Bravo sir.
7th Mar 2021 9:12pm
Thank you Wally for your enthusiastic reply. Made my evening after a hard day on the quinta felling some 'tricky' trees leaning the wrong way and bordering my neighbour's olive trees and newly-pruned vines -- and managing to sprain an ankle at the same time - nothing serious. Enforced break for a couple of days. Glad you liked the audio; I felt the poem and the audio flowed well -- one of my better ones I think. Nice to have that confirmed. RL much apreciated.
11th Mar 2021 8:01pm
I usually stay away from anything politics related but this is really great so I had to comment. :) Just incredible, super meaningful, and the rhyming is so good... The reading is simply amazing also.
11th Mar 2021 10:15pm
Thank you Kristina for commenting -- and for the RL. Glad you liked the poem, even though politics not your is not your zone. I think you're right to stay away (from poilitcs) generally, it's too stressful :))
