I did not use the exact line, but a certain newspaper of record today described a certain political candidate as ‘a unique threat’…

It’s different every time, isn’t it?

On the surface, the same choices appear to be present and accounted for
but the variables behind them cannot be predicted

She’s a liar
            He’s a threat
                        He’s a cantankerous old man
                                    She hasn’t got a chance

Then there are those times

Then there are those times when the universe plays mix-and-match
the same choices appear to be present and accounted for
but they’re not where they’re supposed to be

so when the violence rears its ugly head
(or doesn’t—

We were promised riots. Where are the riots?)

it’s always a shock

Now some folk are genuinely scared
but where is there to go?

Most of us cannot just pick up and fuck off somewhere else
we have too much holding us back
or not enough to enable us to go

We have to face the consequences
of the unenviable choices
our choices have left us

(22 July 2016)