When History Repeats
Brian Sankarsingh reflects the concerning collective human behaviour of doing the same thing over and over again with the hope of a different outcome...
The poem critiques the pursuit of power by those who seek aristocracy at the expense of democracy. In it I wanted to highlight how sycophants can delude leaders, leading to a dangerous dynamic where individuals trade whatever little integrity they may have just to be close to a man with power. This rise of divisiveness and the manipulation of political narratives is something for which both sides of the political spectrum share blame.
We often describe the action of doing the same thing over and over again with the hope that the outcome will change over time as being a loose definition of insanity. If this is the case, and we know that history repeats itself…what does that mean about humanity on the whole?
Ultimately this poem advocates for a strong, united community that prioritizes democracy and resists the allure of authoritarianism. Democracy thrives within a strong vibrant connected community. It dwindles as soon as those we “elect” to lead us begin to sow divison.
Any man who would be king, often Forgets a very simple thing The quest for aristocracy is The opposite of democracy Sycophants may have him so deluded Reality can often be excluded And when the troll is being trolled It is quite a strange sight to behold, but Some people are happy to sell their souls To put a demagogue in control Blinded by a lust of power Flirting with a soul devourer Feels like they want a remedy To the loss of their supremacy Consumed with their hostility Frightened of equality, when Asked they irrationally insist They can control a narcissist What they do is for love of country And freedom stolen from them unjustly We must go back to the good old days To be rid of this woke malaise They know that they are in the right They see this as their sole birthright, this
Sick multicultural potpourri Taking over the bourgeoisie Cannot be allowed to persist At all costs they must resist No illegals must cross the border They come here to sow disorder They steal jobs and commit atrocities Disgusting in their monstrosity People okay perverting a religion Aligning it with their own vision Making saints of unrepentant sinners Selling the future to the highest bidder Seeking to restore the patriarchy And exalt the oligarchy Sit, relax, have a gin and tonic Leave it to trickle-down economics But only one side is not to blame For playing this sick political game Both sides have been complicit Each has gone beyond the limit Now it's normal to be polarized That thinking has been socialized Now it’s all about us and versus them Humanity stands guilty and condemned
The fight is not just for hearts and minds There are more atrocious designs Divisiveness is about control It is the one and ultimate goal A story that’s been played many times before Where those with delusions of grandeur Seek the supremacy of emperor and king To be the ruler of everything We've often seen in our history Many will be lashed to the pillory For in the fight and lust for dominance The first to suffer is the populace The vulnerable and poor first feel the pinch Defenceless souls living on the fringe But sooner or later, you’ll be next As their dictatorial muscles are flexed The only way we can survive Is if the majority chooses to deprive The cult of personality From invading our collective mentality For though we need leaders brave and strong We can keep them from doing wrong We the people are democracy’s vanguard Holding leaders to a higher standard They're not allowed to sow division This only weakens our position It’s by the peoples will they lead Serving in office is not guaranteed Together we bring them to account That single truth is paramount Our strength is in our community There we must find congruity
Bio: BRIAN SANKARSINGH is a Trinidadian-born Canadian immigrant who has published several books of poetry on a wide range of social and historical themes including racism, colonialism, and enslavement. Sankarsingh artfully blends prose and poetry into his storytelling creating an eclectic mix with both genres. This unique approach is sure to provide something for everyone.
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