Hewitt001A Little PeopleJohn Hewitt Estate1986Linen Hall LibraryWednesday, March 16, 2016TIFFHewitt001ManuscriptOutnumbered, History, MigrationEnglishhttps://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/hewitt001Linen Hall LibraryLinen Hall LibraryAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SAhttps://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Hewitt001_0.jpgLHL ArchiveJohn Hewitt
A Little People
We are a little people, in this island
would be outnumbered by an older stock
whose history's too confused to understand
whose faith's deep grounded on an ancient rock.
In this northeastern corner not outfaced,
we've hugged our sod for nigh four hundred years
since the last ripples of migration placed
our grip upon this soil that once was theirs.
Here we have our own tribal rituals
bonfires and banners drums fifes marching men
which every year each summer season calls
the ancient standards to unfurl again
for battles when we won our victories
for the free spirit and the open mind -
names only now blown upon the breeze
their valiant freedoms blurred and ill defined.
Yet for an age we saw ourselves a part
of a world-striding empire's endless prime,
great ships, fine linen, shewed our skill and art
that should, we thought, outlast the drift of time.
But now that empire-commonwealth runs down;
new flags, new faces fill the halls of state
and in embattled country alone
we misbelieve these vagaries of fate.
TextJohn HewittTuesday, July 26, 2016 - 10:291045Hewitt002A Little PeopleJohn Hewitt Estate1986Linen Hall LibraryWednesday, March 16, 2016TIFFHewitt002ManuscriptNationhood, LanguageEnglishhttps://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/hewitt002Linen Hall LibraryLinen Hall LibraryAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SAhttps://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Hewitt002_0.jpgLHL ArchiveThose happier decades we were dominant,
but now that mastery has flaked away
those trades and crafts which fed us have grown scant;
too many waken to a workless day.
So some would pray our shrunken empire hold
us closer to her flank beside the throne
and others, rasher, summon us to fold
our thin cloak round us close and stand alone.
Among that other tribe a myth-crazed clan
oathbound to serve their omen of nationhood,
cower in their covens secretly to plan
their future's chart in scrawls of tears and blood.
Hence sorely challenged by their doubts and fears,
our public men spin out and skein of words
which lashing towards disaster's shores appears
a storm of hissing snakes and croaking birds.
From this fraught language – as sure consequence
sparks fall like tinder on the gaping streets
where baffled wits ignite to violence
as frightened face its mirror image meets.
A certain way to boost our enemies
or cut the friendship off which friends we had;
That ancient Greek philosopher was wise
whom the gods would destroy they first make mad
TextJohn HewittTuesday, July 26, 2016 - 10:291046Hewitt003A Little PeopleJohn Hewitt Estate1986Linen Hall LibraryWednesday, March 16, 2016TIFFHewitt003ManuscriptLexicon, Tolerance, NurtureEnglishhttps://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/hewitt003Linen Hall LibraryLinen Hall LibraryAttribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SAhttps://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Hewitt003_0.jpgLHL ArchiveSo now intransigently negative
our threadbare lexicon provides no scope
should one of our nay-sayers dare to give
some gentler phrase of mercy, grace or hope.
That only hope now is to tame our tongues,
trim them to truth, for all within this place
endure the same indignities and wrongs,
the common fortune of our human race
and all must need, in tolerance combined,
a steady purpose to achieve, extend
employment, bodily nature, peace of mind
when each may grasp his neighbour's hand as friend.
TextJohn HewittTuesday, July 26, 2016 - 10:291047