Poetry list, Holy Week, Latest works
friday
outside of the city areas
unwalled undefended
often by plenty habit
contentment ease but
countered by the
condemned cells of war
poverty disease tyranny
here in the open but cloaked and
enshrouded by fear prejudice
contempt indifference blood
is spilt judiciously flesh is pierced
technically to shame and
pain beyond words where is
innocence and what
can it mean is sacrifice loss
without benefits is meaning
and its power of love so
absent it might be gone for
ever the lance in the side
no need to break the legs
the sabbath is fast upon us
so back to our temples and
the interior orders of self
and importance the gushing
blood guarantees our job is
done revolt stamped out but look
the flow is watered too a river
of hope embracing all loss death
now has a power transformed
how can I trust it if I can’t see
it
© Neil Thompson 2026