My poetry is in responce to actual events and/or personal experiences.
Sometimes they are humourous but often they relate to a political, ecological or humanitarian situation, or in this case I like the sense of timing between a national bowl cancer initiative and the fedral elections.
Poetry is another significant voice in my toolbox.
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Ordure to Canberra
​
A parcel was posted to me
A request for a sample from my bowels
An unusual invitation to all men over 50
To participate in this
Extraordinary study on
Jobs and Growth
Bowel cancer research
In the middle of an election
My contribution a number two job
A small amount of Labor ensuing
My liberal bequest of excrement
Searching for an odious growth
I am grateful for their dalliance
I am grateful for a negative result
My Job was favorable in my labor
And no growth was detected
In my liberal five foot bowel
My ordure keeps me gifted
There’s nothing more satisfying
Than sending shit to Canberra
​
On Election Day
At our town hall
A young, attractive blond woman
Hands a card to me
An invitation of sorts, I take it
“Sex party” she says with an alluring melodic voice
Delighted I said; but I will have to check my diary
​
© John Mutsaers
5.7.2016
I was devastated by the results of our 14/10/2023 referendum and wrote this poem the next morning.
​
Rejection day
The sloganeer
The puppeteer
The mongers of fear.
​
The statement from the heart
A kind offer for a brand-new start
Discarded and viciously torn apart
​
We’re not racist, says the sloganeer
Confirmed by the nodding puppeteer
Offering their hampers of lies and fear
​
Slogans composed in vile manipulations and trumped
Brutal foes with fists on their heartless chests thumped
Our optimistic open hands were unfairly gazumped
​
Clichés rehearsed in the septic galleries of politics
Elders past and present locked in sacks of nasty tricks
Treachery succeeded when the booths shut at six
​
Australia made their choice, then went to bed
The puppet master rests her Papier-mâché head
Satisfied, they waited for the fear to spread
​
On the verge of tears,
John Mutsaers
14.10.2023