Hanging on in there

we Gate Ten wallahs and hangers on
hang on to the hope
that the yanks'll go hang

hanging on by our placard tips
hanging on by e mail bytes
we act and hang on to hope

no longer *Owen's old barbed wire
some hang themselves out
on Fairford's new razor barbed wire
or hang from Buck House gates

unlike hanging wallpaper
peacewatchers refuse to paper over the cracks
of governmental duplicity

tempting though 'tis
it should not be a hanging offence
to perpetuate an illegal unjust war
we do not bomb for peace

united united nations' rationales
should be hung out to apply
to world's common sense for Iraqi self-rule

meanwhile

the mother of all hangers is built at Fairford
to wash and dry, bloody big blasted bombers

so

the Brenda-led fairfordpeacewatchers
hang on to witness
the witless hangers-on to Empire Rules
we will hang on in there
and more
we will lead the way
lead the way to peace
missed this Christmas, aimed for next
as * Owen's mob hung onto the lie
t'would all be over by Xmas
peacewatchers will stay strong
as sure as Still the Nacht
was serenaded over no man's land
as sure as Briar's "Cogs in the Machine" * was sung
to baying obeying Gloucestershire plods

that this is Christmas makes no difference
to innocent civilians' cries

hanging on in there?
sod it, we're in there
we ain't going anywhere,
anywhere but
Peace Street

Tony Hillier, Gate Ten supporter, receives industrious Brenda's fairfordpeacewatch regular e mail on Christmas Day 2004 and is immediately moved to scribble this with love and best wishes to all who believe and act on the fact that war is wrong. tony.hillier@ntlworld.com 07762 649390

*Gate Ten was where tough protestors encamped against Iraq invasion March-April 2003 circa 2 months at USAF Fairford, Glos.

* Wilfred Owen and other First World War poets

* Gate Tenor (!) Briar SJ Fellows created and sang this song "Cogs" amongst others (eg Living Under the Bombers, More to Life) @ Gate Ten