"Hater-Lite"

I'd doff my cap to your dedication
If I wore a hat
'Cos when it comes to 'Mostly Hating Tories'
I am a lazy prat.
Sure I'll always vote for Labour
To keep the bastards out
In my own way I still despise them
Of that there is no doubt.
I've never crossed a picket
A scab is the lowest of the low
But when it comes to fighting the good fight
I'm not there to deliver the blow.
I'll always back a strike vote
Stand outside my work on the line
Well that depends on the weather
If it's not raining and sunshine.
And of course I back your causes
Totally to the hilt
Well maybe too busy to go on your demo's
Petitions are how a revolution's built.
It's not that I don't want to join you
But I've got other things to do
I'm far too busy to be caged and kettled
Like animals in a zoo.
So now I'm blaming coppers
Even though I was active in my youth
Hiding behind excuses
Deep down that's the truth.
I kid myself it's OK
Not to be physically there for the fight
Truth is I'm letting down working class heroes
And that really ain't right.
It must be such a struggle
Banging your head against a wall
But if it weren't for activists like you
We'd have no rights at all.
Truth is when I seen Janine Booth's political C.V.
I don't know where to look
I hope she will be able to forgive me
If I buy another copy of her book!

Dulwich Poet 16th May 2015

(In a few days time I'm doing a feature slot at the monthly 'Paper Tiger Poetry' night in Vauxhall. also featuring is Janine Booth, a brilliant left-wing poet, who has published a booklet of her poems called "Mostly Hating Tories'. This poem is for her...)