Empire

The wind is getting up.

Should I put

Kipling aside

For his pride

In empire?

Should I apologise

And lower my eyes

For seeing empire

In all it’s complexity?

The Romans to Britain came.

Should Italians apologise

And lower their eyes

With shame?

You may say

“The Roman Empire

Was not all bad”.

But you would be mad

To put your head above the parapit

And admit

The same

Of Britain’s imperial past.

A certain class

Would look aghast

And cry “shame”

And label you

With a name

Untrue.

Mud sticks

And ma...