Mere Ethical Rules Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Tried to engage you in conversation about Libya,
you refused, more interested in rugby game feuds,
I thought I could prepare for my horrible document
by getting other people’s opinions, bought and read
two newspapers, they all said was Zuma did not
like what NATO did in Libya

I still have to translate my propaganda text; nowhere a
hint to stop being angry at the way my country presents
a bad performance when the UN and AU are involved –
you happily watch rugby on TV, I can’t reach a teacher
to tell me how to resolve my feelings, when we ask, we
are told the answer resides inside

In our own mind – well, I’ll have you know, the only things
I cherish are series of juvenile literature, every book I come
across delineating sweet ideals - the rest is so much dross,
modern society awards prizes to stars while denouncing
teenagers for doing the same thing unauthorised
- be famous first –

A world preaching moral behaviour while adoring those
who act immorally - have you not already realised that
trust, optimism and hope weigh more on the scales
of accomplishment than mere ethical rules?