Something is rotten in the states of Europe

children fighting for survival     tear-gassed

at close range

into the eyes

                                          down the throat.

Something is rotten in the Jungle

of democracy

and civilisation

refugee children starving

sent away from terror       to suffer in horror

or be killed on the road           to a better life.

Something is rotten in the states of America

land of the free                    capital of liberty.

Is something rotten at the heart of humanity?

refs:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/02/child-refugees-calais-failed-by-britain

Woman’s Hour, Radio 4, August 3^rd, 2016.

Dave Urwin is a Mancunian poet living in west Wales. Some of his poetry is on http://www.jadedmountain.wordpress.com.