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John Garth Raubenheimer (21/12/1947 / Johannesburg)
Murder
Murder has worn a bangle
Murder has worn a brace
Murder has worn a collar and tie
And a smile upon its face
Murder has blossomed in petticoats
Murder has come out in lace
Murder has togged up in rags and filth
From the midden to the market place
Murder has cavorted with idiots
Murder has flourished among fools
Murder has cultivated genius
Murder makes and breaks all the rules
Murder has blasted from a cannon
Murder has fired from a gun
Murder has been delivered with rapier and sword
With a nod or a wink or a pun
Murder has come wrapped in parcels
Murder has arrived in the post
Murder has been swallowed with cheese and wine
Murder has been served on toast
Murder has been committed by proxy
Murder has been agreed on by vote
Murder has been sent with roses
Ribbons kisses and a note
Murder has been done in a fit of rage
On the main street in broad daylight
Murder has been done with an icy calm
In the middle of the night
Murder has been done for money
Murder has been done for a fix
Murder has been done for good reason
Murder has been done for kicks
Murder feels safe in large numbers
Murder feels good on a hill
Murder likes a uniform and big heavy boots
A patriot's license to kill
Murder has worn a dog-collar
Murder has carried a book
Murder has worn solemn words and phrases
A sanctimonious look
Murder is fond of information
And has a tape-recorder handy to tell
Murder likes statements made in confinement
Murder wants a signature as well
Murder has clubbed with a feather
Murder can stab with a pen
Murder comes to all from curved keyboards
Caressed by good family men
Murder has often been whitewashed
Murder has been painted black
Murder hired this morning
Has already been given the sack
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lovely poem liked it wahtever is said is truly true............must say good use of metaphors and similes :)
Today I succumbed to the consensus and shortened Murder
I know it's long and I could work on it to make it shorter - but do I want to change what an exuberant 28 year old poet wrote, in a burst of passion. To me at 63 that feels like a kind of censorship
Lovely. I loved it.
Yes, it is a little too long. The intent gets lost in too many words. The thought is wonderful and well stated in many stanzas. This good poem could become a great poem with a little rework.
Adeline
What a great poem John... everything you said is true and murder has come a long way... goes way back to the murder for a birthright we read in the Bible and Im sure we would if only we couldve been a fly on a caves wall, witnessed a murder in a Cavemans abode, for woman or food or jealousy. Even a mad cavewoman killing maybe a child, for any reason whatsoever murder has been part of life from the begining. And maybe sympathy for murder with reason has been around just as long... who knows.10
I really liked your poem, It was strong and brave. It was a little long, but I didn't care. I loved it
Ummm...too long, though the gist was good
I really enjoyed this, very powerful.
Hugs
Anna xxx