Mockery - March 13 2022

 

Mockery

March 13 2022

Black humour

in grim times like these.

Behind closed doors

with the shades drawn.

Flushed and garrulous

around a festive table

over home-brewed beer.

In bed

under heavy covers

in an unheated room,

whispering into her ear

because you love to make her laugh.

Where the two of you spoon

and hold each other close

for more than mere warmth.

We know enough

not to believe what we hear

from the sycophants and grifters

who parrot the party line.

Nevertheless, we nod agreeably

avert our eyes

go off to work and back.

We act out of fear

but they can't control our minds.

The jokes are cynical, trenchant, clever,

bawdy and licentious

and subversively dry.

And the joke's on them;

because our mocking is merciless,

and ridicule a more powerful weapon

than jackboots and threats.

There is something about the human spirit in authoritarian repressive regimes that incites the most clever and hilarious black humour. I think of the old Soviet Union, and now Russia under Putin. Russians (and Ukrainians) especially, with their historical memory of hardship and scarcity, a culture of stoic suffering and survival, and a talent for work-arounds and self-reliance. I understand, too, that the Russian language is very rich, and so lends itself to wordplay and allusion.

As I write this, the Russian invasion of Ukraine dominates the news and has my own attention riveted, so I hope I can be excused for veering into the political and topical instead of keeping my poetry as I prefer: personal and evergreen. Putin is suppressing all opposition and non-complicit media. But information trickles in, then spreads through social networks. It appears the majority of people are too indoctrinated to accept the truth. But the young, urban, educated, and well-off tend to know better. And meanwhile, the black humour helps keep life in such an oppressive regime bearable!