One Of Johnny Howard's Forgotten
Like a piece of driftwood by the tide left on the beach to rot
She walks the streets of the slum end the one who is forgot
By the bureaucrats of Government they see those in poverty
As the people of the dead end who create their own reality.
The Government has been re-elected yesterday was voting day
And Johnny Howard remains as Prime Minister the voters had their say
To the middle class and to the wealthy class a hero Nationwide
And one who has greatly benefited out of the great social divide.
One of Johnny Howard's forgotten her tousled hair is gray
A woman in her sixties she has known a better day
Her Landlord raised the rent on her and now she must sleep rough
And life already on her it would seem quite hard enough.
The Government supporters are dancing in the street
As they wave their flags and buntings and victory is sweet
Yet in the World thousands are in poverty to every millionaire
And what have they to celebrate when life is so unfair.
Like a piece of driftwood on the beach that was washed in by the tide
She walks the street of the slum end her collie at her side
One of Johnny Howard's forgotten she knows of poverty
And there are many others just as pauperized as she.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Related quotes
John Howard In Retirement
John Howard in retirement he lives the good life
With Janette one can say his devoted wife
His term as Australian Prime Minister by the voters was brought to an end
But with fame and money he won't go short of a friend
Howard's Government policies did not unite but divide
Their Work Choices did get the Trade Unions offside
But the Government defeated and their Work Choices with them gone
A win for the Workers and the Unions live on
Kevin Ruud who dethroned him may well celebrate
But on him there too is an unseen use by date
By the Australian voters as Prime Minister empowered
But will his fate be that any different to Howard?
The one who divided and could not unite
He failed when he took on the Trade Union's might.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Smirking Peter Costello
Smirking Peter Costello wee Johnny Howard's heir
What his views are on others I do not much care
Since he is only courting the Conservative right
I would not trust him with my life though he is cunning and bright.
On what it takes to be a good Aussie he likes to have his say
But I for one respect to his views does not pay
As his views do have racial undertones it does seem seem to me
Though with my opinion many would disagree.
Smirking Peter Costello he is so full of guile
He is one of those people who smirk when they smile
Johnny Howard's job he craves and he secretly pursue
Yet he is a good Politician to give him his due.
On Howard's retirement he patiently wait
But wee Johnny the top job may never vacate
Till at the polls he's defeated or of old age he die
And that might be for two decades between you and I.
On the Government benches as they sit side by side
Their contempt for each other they struggle to hide
Sneaky wee John as P M is determined to stay
And Costello like a bad smell will just not go away.
And what of opposition leader Kim Beazley known as runner up Kim
There is very little to enthuse about him
Post next Election the next Australian Prime Minister perhaps one of these three
And of the job none of them worthy it does seem to me.
Smirking Peter Costello a man who craves power
But he may never know of his glorious hour
For Howard like a leech to the top job does cling
One must suppose the human lust for power is a natural thing.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
So Many Poor Souls And Not Many Who Care
So many poor souls and not many who care
Are doing it quite tough in the big World out there
The homeless and hungry teenagers of poverty street
Are searching in rubbish bins for something to eat
The gap is increasing in the social divide
And millions are Stateless and Homeless and hungry World wide
The victims of droughts and wars and disease
In the refugee camps millions of refugees.
The marginalized are doing it quite tough
On poverty street they are sleeping rough
People should not have to go hungry in the World of today
But such is not the case that does seem sad to say
For one wealthy person thousands in poverty
Those who need far more than words of sympathy
People who look old before they reach their life's prime
To be born to poor parents is their only crime.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The So Called Good Economic Managers
Due to Government mismanagement we see a society in decay
And the wealthy at the expense of the poor get wealthier it should never be that way
In so called affluent Western Nations people live rough on the street
Without a place to call home to out of rubbish bins they eat.
The Government due to so called good economic management get re-elected but the poor getting more poor
And for the youth of the poor Suburbs job opportunities are fewer
And many young people never find employment because of their address
And lack of career opportunities give rise to feelings of hopelessness.
Life is tough for those in the poor Suburbs where poverty is rife
From the day that they are born they must struggle on through life
The Monarch became Monarch due to birthright doesn't life seem so unfair
Whilst millions are dying of hunger in the bigger World out there.
The so called good economic managers are back in power again
But from their good economic management only the wealthy gain
And even in so called wealthy Western Nations there is widespread poverty
And more people dying of malnutrition than ever before in the twenty first century.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Lines On The Australian Dock Dispute (98)
My sympathy is not with the sacked Australian wharfies
Compared to most others they are overpaid
The old tired fight the bosses versus the workers
On the Australian docks is once again replayed.
And my sympathy is not with Chris Corrigan of Patrick Stevedores
He sacked one thousand four hundred of his men
Because they all were members of a Trade Union
Is union membership nowadays a sin? .
But least of all my sympathies are not with the Australian Government
They only seek to conquer and divide
They are the greatest culprits in this conflict
But soon their fate the people will decide.
I can feel sympathy for farmers and exporters and importers
They are between a rock and a hard place
This power struggle is going to cost them millions
This dock dispute an Australian disgrace.
But for the farm leaders I don't have any sympathy
For siding with the Government against the M.U.A.
They should have known that those who take sides in disputes
Win or lose will have some price to pay.
Perhaps the wharfies should have accepted their substantial redundancies
Although 'twould seem that they've not been treated fair
But my sympahies are with the lower paid workers
And the forgotten people on welfare.
And as for the Government elected by the people
For taking sides in disputes they were not empowered
And history will not look on them too kindly
Especially those two Reith and Johnny Howard.
On the WIK issue the Government had shown their true colours
They only seek to conquer and divide
But they were not elected for to be divisive
And the Australian people on their fate will soon decide.
And since the wharfies by the Federal Court are re-instated
Their jubilation with them I can't share
I see them as the privileged class of workers
And my sympathies will always be elsewhere.
Millions of dollars have been squandered on court battles
Between Patrick Stevedores and the M.U.A.
And poor Australia is the biggest loser
And barristers and judges getting wealthier by the day.
The likes of St Vincent De Paul and the Salvation Army
With the squandered millions could do quite a lot
They could help out the less privileged and needy
The people by this government forgot.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Children Of Poverty Street
At least spare a thought for the children the children of Poverty Street
They are homeless as young teenagers and against the odds they must compete
Their parents serving time for robbery and narcotic offences and most of their role models in jail
Their circumstance of birth is a huge mark against them the poor young people destined to fail.
They steal for to buy food, drugs and alcohol on Poverty Street life is tough
Too young much too young to be homeless without shelter and sleeping rough
They are pushed to the social fringes the young people society disown
Ignored by the Government Bureaucracies and to the Police only known.
Who could envy them their existence those born into cruel circumstance
The Gods are completely against them of success they do not stand a chance
For them life is such a great battle they must battle their ghosts of despair
They don't even dream of the good life to them life is very unfair.
You who waffle on of life's choices with you talk is always so cheap
Bet you were not homeless at thirteen and on a park bench had to sleep
You would not talk of life's choices if you had to steal for to eat
If you felt alone and abandoned like the children of Poverty Street.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
On Poverty Street
On Poverty Street and Refugee camps far away
The struggles of life it goes on every day
The struggles to live in the face of despair
The have nots of the World have never been rare
The homeless and hungry obliged to sleep rough
And many far too many are doing it tough
And thousands are growing poorer for each new millionaire
No such a thing as equality in the big World out there
On the people of Poverty Street the drug dealers prey
For their own gain they treat their fellow human beings in a disrespectful way
For money to feed their addictions the poor sinned against turn to crime
And they end up in jail for a considerable time
On Poverty Street there is no cause for cheer
And of success stories from there one seldom does hear.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Poverty
To get a card of
Below poverty line
I have to spot a person
Who has a link with Maoists.
Some says the head of the
Government of the state
Is the leader of maoists
Catchhold him seriously.
Who is poor and
How far in poverty
I am not here to
Measured or explain or
Eradicate poverty.
Without poverty the
Functioning of the
Government is difficult
As you know.
To get a card of
Below poverty line
Is to rebuild
The government and
You must agree
The rich how dear.
poem by Gajanan Mishra
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Mr Tony Blair
Like every British Prime Minister he has purpose in his stare
And few are as good at talking tough as Mr Tony Blair
Once the World's greatest Empire to much now does not amount
And lessons that are in the past are never taken into account.
The British Government once took part of Iraq and formed a new State
And re-named Iraq's nineteenth province the Kingdom of Kuwait
And one war leads to another war look at Iraq today
A land ravaged by war where the Brits play a major part along with the U S A.
The winners always write the history in Ireland Cromwell left his trail of shame
But like every other war winner he did not take any blame
For the diplacement and deaths of thousands of innocent people streets signs now honour his ill fame
Yet in England's sister Country his is still a loathed name.
And the old tradition of waging war carried on by Mr Blair
In this wrongful war waged in Iraq he is a major player
And Saddam was the loser his statue was dragged down
If he had won today he'd be the God of Baghdad Town.
Can the likes of Bush and Blair and Johnny Howard bring back to life their war dead?
They only have the power for to take life enough of them is said
They are as bad as Saddam who is deservedly in disgrace
But the winners only write the war history and that always is the case.
Perhaps he will live to a ripe old age and the good life he'll enjoy
And for his victories in war as a hero he will die
And in years from now there will be streets named after Tony Blair
When all is said and all is done doesn't life seem so unfair?
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Johnny Dont Do It
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny was an angel
An angel dressed in black
He used to hang around the guys
Down at the local track
He tried so hard to join them
But they always turned him back
Johnny dont do it
He was an angel
Johnny dont do it
Such an angel
He was only 17
Just got out of school
He stole a bike from joes garage
To prove that he was cool
He didnt know that the brakes were worn
And fate can be so cruel
Johnny dont do it
He was an angel
Johnny dont do it
Such an angel
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Well johnny went a riding
With his girlfriend on the back seat
Looking for some action
And they found it down a back street
Suddenly a truck pulled out
He tried to step on the brake
Johnny dont do it (here is a news flash)
Johnny dont do it (today, johnny kowalski, also known as johnny
Angel)
Johnny dont do it (and his young fiance francine, were tragically
Killed)
Johnny dont do it (in a cycle accident)
Dont do it, dont do it (any witnesses please contact)
Dont do it, dont do it (the police at precinct 29)
Now johnnys with the angels
The angels in the sky
I wonder if he thinks of us
As he goes riding by
If only had listened
Oh the number of times we tried
To tell him
Johnny dont do it
He was an angel
Johnny dont do it
Such an angel
Johnny dont do it
He was an angel
Johnny dont do it
Such an angel
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
Johnny dont do it
song performed by by 10 Cc
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Where Were You
1) Johnny was a man from a good town south of omaha
He lived his dreams and raised a family
But he could not see the way you see, all the people and the freaks
Were on the empty pages in his mind
2) Johnnys daddy died in the big war
They never found his body to this day
It was on that beach in Normandy, Johnny hoped he'd never see
His daddy washed away to an early grave
Chorus -
Where were you then
I'm on that street again
Wishing I could fly away forever
3) Johnnys' daughter hates her life in this goddamn town
She runs away forever to be free
But the city eats her sanity, she winds up livin' on the streets
Wishing she could be home by the fire
Chorus
4) Johnny died late one night in his empty bed
A lonley man with no one by his side
It was there he slipped into his dreams, with all the people and the freaks
right there by his side no longer alone
Chorus 2x
song performed by by Zuba
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Hidden Poverty
In a Nation of many well off people they call it hidden poverty
The poor souls of the back streets that the wealthy never see
They live in condemned houses that are clearly in decay
And out of sight is out of mind or so 'twould seem that way.
In a Nation of many millionaires many live in a tent
People forced to become Homeless when their landlord on them raised their rent
The greed of the wealthy leads to homelessness and the numbers of the homeless multiply
The only roof that some know is the polluted Urban sky.
The Land of opportunity many have been known to say
Those who feel that all is rosy they themselves are doing okay
So many do grow poorer for every new millionaire
That is life some will tell you but life's not always fair.
In a Nation of many millionaires hidden poverty abound
And in the back streets of the City people sleep on the bare ground
Crudely referred to by some as losers and it seems sad to recall
That there was never such a thing as a 'fair go for all'.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Get Rid Of
Rid the Human World of rank and class distinction than those we need something more fair
Get rid of the titles of the Sirs and Madams and tax to the hilt every millionaire and billionaire
And strive for to alleviate the pain of poverty the poverty afflicting the poor
I disagree with those who say that poverty is like an incurable disease since for poverty there is a cure.
Get rid of Monarchies and the snobbery that goes with them privilege by right of birth does seem wrong
You poet there's a place for you in this only laud the unsung in your song
And with your pen try to drag down those tall poppies who seek to conquer and divide
The poor need you more than the rich do they need one like you on their side.
Get rid of those big bureaucracies that only serve the wealthy and privileged few
And promote the spirit of egalitarianism and give everybody their due
If in death all people are equal why not they be equal in life
All I see are greed and corruption in a World where rank and class distinction are rife.
Get rid of all war-men and terrorists because of them far too many have died
Our dream of an Earthly Utopia by these sort of people destroyed
We all were born naked and helpless and before we walked we learned how to crawl
And promote the things that unite us the right to a fair go for all.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Slum Dog Millionaire
We keep asking why so much fanfare
About the film –“Slum dog Millionaire”
This is not an attempt to sound grim
About the popularity of the now famous film
But to understand why the world only applauds
Films on poverty and its dark innards
Signifying that only the worst side of the city
Brings out feelings of sympathy and pity
Could it have not portrayed a more
Balanced image of India to even the score
There are definitely pillars of great progress
The burgeoning middle class who sincerely stress
On good moral values and the importance of education
Giving us pride of place and a high degree of perfection
In many areas involving high technology
We can seriously claim to be the best globally
But of course on the other hand all is not bad
There is even reason to be glad
Danny Uncle has won the heart of many a slum kid
Thanks to him they will from their poverty be rid
They can even harbour dreams of entering Hollywood
If not, at least they can aspire for a career in Bollywood
These natural little actors would have remained inconnu
Had they not been selected to be part of the Slum dog milieu
For that they have to thank Danny Boyle
Who tirelessly worked with these little sons of the soil
But we like many others too would have been a lot happier
Had the movie had painted a less bleak picture of India.
poem by Sandra Martyres
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
The Downfall Of Human Kind
The downfall of human kind it would seem to me
Are greed and corruption, homelessness and poverty
And patriotism and religion and National pride
All of these things lead to war and they are World-wide.
In a World where millions are dying of hunger and disease
The refugee camps are full of refugees
Millions displaced due to war and famine of great suffering they know
The people fleeing war zones with nowhere to go.
Even in so called wealthy Nations poverty is rife
And the ruthless look on the poor as the losers in life
Far too many homeless on poverty street
With nowhere to live and with little to eat.
Some grow wealthy and successful though they lie and cheat
The capitalist system has failed us complete
Thousands must grow poorer for every new millionaire
Do not tell me that the capitalist system is fair.
So much poverty in the big World out there
And so many are living in hopeless despair
But one falsehood with some sadness we recall
The lie we believed of a 'fair go for all'.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Their Great Lust For Life
In life for many every day there's some battle to fight
And many must go to bed hungry at night
That is those who do have a bed to sleep on
And any hope of success that they had from them gone.
Their life's greatest battle is just to survive
And their great lust for life only keeps them alive
A fair go in life to them has been denied
Those on the wrong side of the social divide.
Familiar to poverty and they know of despair
But their great lust for life keeps them hanging in there
Like poor struggling fish washed in by the tide
And if there is a god he is not on their side.
The poverty stricken the poor and downtrod
The Homeless and the Stateless of the lesser god
Yet despite their misfortunes to life they do cling
And their great lust for life is an amazing thing.
With their heavy life's crosses they struiggle to cope
And their great lust for life it was born out of hope
That lady luck on them one day soon will smile
And their every day struggles will have been worth-while.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Johnny Moon
Johnny Moon
Dreams in class
Answers the question before it's asked
You can see Johnny but he's not here
Nobody saw Johnny disappear
Mother says his mama's too easy
Letting him come and go as he pleases
Walls and windows won't do it
Lock the door
Johnny goes right through it
It's so hard to get his attention
When he's out there in another dimension
Johnny I wanna follow you outside
I wanna feel that high
It's so hard to get his attention
When he's out there in another dimension
Johnny
song performed by by Heart from Passion Works
Submitted by Lucian Velea
Vote! | Copy!
Australian Federal Election 2001
All I see are two ageing power hungry men squabbling for the lion's share
And who will win Howard or Beazley? don't ask me I don't care
The Labor party and the Coalition seem very much the same to me
As neither of them have once promised for to combat poverty.
For the growing scourge of poverty they don't offer any cure
But then suppose not many votes in the favouring of the poor
And not many of the Homeless vote when it comes to polling day
But who could blame them for their apathy when they must live in such a way.
When I hear talk of budget surpluses by the major party politicians I feel cause for concern
For who will keep the budget in the black ought not be hard to discern
It's the working poor and the very poor who always suffer the most
And because of neglect for them the Government of their budget surplus boast.
Who will win the Federal Election that won't be worrying me
For whoever forms Government won't be combating poverty
They squabble for the lion's share and seek their own renown
And they only Govern for those at the top end of the Town.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
On The Federal Election of 2001
All I see are two ageing power hungry men squabbling for the lion's share
And who will win Howard or Beazley? don't ask me as I do not care
The Labor party and the Coalition seem very much the same to me
As neither of them have once promised for to combat poverty.
For the growing scourge of poverty they don't offer any cure
But then suppose not many votes in the favouring of the poor
And not many of the homeless vote when it comes to polling day
But who could blame them for their apathy when they must live in such a way.
When I hear talk of budget surpluses by the major party politicians I feel cause for concern
For who will keep the budget in the black ought not be hard to discern
It's the working poor and the very poor who always suffer the most
And because of neglect for them the Government of their budget surplus boast.
Who will win the Federal Election that won't be worrying me
For whoever forms Government won't be combating poverty
They squabble for the lion's share and seek their own renown
And they only Govern for those at the top end of the Town.
poem by Francis Duggan
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!
Anarchists
The leaders of this country,
Think were the ones that do wrong,
They take control of the power,
and steal this land of forgotten freedom
Its not the people afraid of the government,
Its the government afraid of the people
They call the ones dressed in black,
The evil ones but we fight back,
We've got hackers, we've got protesters,
we let no man left behind
Its not the people afraid of the government,
Its the government afraid of the people
The unions dressed in black,
With their flag raised up high,
Don't take no for an answer,
As the forces stain the streets with blood
Its not the people afraid of the government,
Its the government afraid of the people
We fight for the people,
Our obligation is good as gold,
And though we fight with arms of steel,
we don't let death go in vein
Its not the people afraid of the government,
Its the government afraid of the people
poem by Bing D'Amico
Submitted by Poetry Lover
Vote! | Copy!