Microcosm

Like spirits bent from hell, the nations come
(Invisible, but thought, felt, smelt and heard)
Into our inner world like sharks to chum
That thrash about and lash when they are stirred.
They hide inside the ganglia of our gut
And wait a weakened heart and weaker mind
For their best chance to bite about and cut,
And gorge on all the tissue their teeth find.
They kill the hand that feeds them – so they die
When they have gobbled up all they can eat;
So for these raucous nations, we must try
The sharpest strategies for their defeat:
When mind awakes from trembling majesty,
Liege heart and silenced nations must agree