to some of us the enveloping misery of the world has ceased to matter the great human tragedy is but white noise the huddled masses in their despair are faceless, nameless forms and we do not care 'tis the fate of those blighted to have seem too much to have lived beyond their years if you see us despondent and crestfallen it's only our habitual haunting grounds if we moan in the darkness of a reverie we're just licking our wounds if you see us carrying sword or rifle it's because we long ago lost everything to look forward to and if we become the norm in the decay of our withering civilisation and you no longer see us having become white noise for you welcome to our ranks [8-XI-2020]