Image breaker

image breaker a spoken oath, a darkly uttered phrase, 

an incantation of this planet’s ancient days 

spawned occult runes and twisted ideology 

that stained a moment in our human history 

an image, black on field of red and white; 

a tainted, whirling, devastating rite 

upon dark uniforms of hatred worn 

while death oaths of allegiance were sworn 

swift rise of blind hatred and ambition 

flags raised grimly for an evil mission 

riding a vile wave of nationalistic pride 

toward the deadly goal of ethnic genocide 

that moment all humanity now abhors 

reborn inside our eve-present wars 

those torrid memories of a darker past 

countless victims of a vain iconoclast 

how could this tragedy unfold? we plead 

as we reflect upon those gruesome deeds 

systemised slaughter for a vicious racial slur 

state sponsored murder that would not demur 

for all we treasured through and through 

and once held up as wholesome and true, 

was crushed by jackboots on a stony floor 

full shattered, perhaps to rise no more

yet from the splintered crystal came 

a firm determination to regain 

a higher purpose than that howling corps 

that spun a million pieces to the floor 

the tyrant’s power and strength can only thrive 

inside the fears of subjugated lives 

rise up therefore, and let your courage break 

your mental chains for all humanity’s sake 

smash the despot’s dark insignia hard 

fracture his hateful symbols into shards 

his acolytes must ever be pursued 

their fascist image never more to be renewed 

Steve Wheeler © 15 October, 2020

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