We sleepwalk toward jaws of the Beast.

Carefully sedated since early childhood daze.

While silent voice roars.

‘Sitting up straight, arms folded, eyes on the blackboard.

You kids will need a diploma to cut grass by the time you leave school.’

‘Thank you teacher

for all the useful things you learn us,

Latin and algebra

and all them other practical things.’

So soundly we sleepwalk to our first job.

‘Listen young feller, some advice from the wise,

keep your mouth shut and your head down

and you’ll do fine,

You can do this job in your sleep.’

Work hard pay taxes with money already taxed.

Pay tax on that already taxed,

never wake,

the Beast patiently waits.

So soundly we shuffle to our first vote.

‘I promise lower taxes, cheaper electricity, a home for all,’

Politician cries.

The dream too sweet to wake from, we tick the box.

Zombie like, shuffle on, mumble mantra.

‘Net zero, net zero, save the planet

Agenda 21.

Thank you United Nations for this most useful plan.

Closer, closer, to the jaws of the Beast.

It’s foul breath a most pleasant aroma

to sanitised minds.

Sleep, sleep, ‘Net Zero saves the planet.’

Occasionally a somnambulant wakes,

screams,

‘Lies, lies, all lies, Net Zero all lies.

Can you not see

the Emperor is as naked as a new-born babe?’

Gagged,

he is thrown into the belly of the Beast.

Sleep, sleep, a New World awaits,

no need to be Brave.

‘Net Zero our saviour.’ They mumble.

While bulldozers roar,

decapitating the mountain.

Erect wind farms,

silent sentinal to greed and corruption.

Net Zero saves, saves, saves.

Wind is free,

electricity is free.

(The beast is here,

howls, bears its fangs.)

Vane monsters whir and whirl their sad song.

Waiting for the wet season to wash them to the sea.

Waiting for Doan Quixote on trusty steed

to challenge them with lance of truth.

Waiting for our children’s children to scream,

‘What have you done?

Destroying our birth right for a trickle of power.

Could you not fathom the Net Zero lie?’

‘We did it for you younsters.

To save the planet.’

The Beast is satiated.