SIMON WELSH STEALS THE SHOW AT AV5.

Simon Welsh, poet extraordinaire, stole the show at this year’s AV5 Truth conference at Daventry.

Having gained many new fans with his own presentation on Saturday afternoon, he was called in by the organizer Ian R Crane to further entertain the 200 plus delegates, after Greg Nikolettos failed to give his presentation on Saturday evening.

Read more: Greg Nikolettos arrested at AV5.

Simon Welsh showcased his poetry talents by engrossing the audience with many diverse poems plucked from the top of his head.

Describing his ability to recall such lengthy poems at will, Simon says its like getting on “roller-coaster,” in which he’s carried along the track and the words flow out accordingly.

Firmly on the path to success, fame and fortune, Simon Welsh gained notoriety during the 2013 Balcombe anti-fracking protests, in which he was arrested for singing.

Recounting the story of being arrested and writing a poem during the seven long hours he was imprisoned in his police cell, Simon impressed the conference with the following poem.

SIMON’S POEM: Arrested for Singing (written while in custody at Crawley Police Station)

Today I was arrested for the power of my voice.

I didn’t get arrested by design or wilful choice.

They arrested me for singing with my blessed heart and soul.

Do they understand that freedom for humanity’s my goal?

They say I was arrested for ignoring what they said.

But that wasn’t how it happened in my heart or in my head.

I was standing in the crowd when the music set me free,

And in that heightened state let me explain what I could see:

Three men standing near me in the bustle and the noise

As we sang for hope and freedom: I was singing with the boys!

I looked into their eyes and I sang with all my heart,

And in that breath I saw that we’d been brothers from the start.

I did not see their helmets, did not register their word.

The lyrics and vibration of the anthem’s all I heard.

I did not see their authorship. All I saw was kin

And my heart confirmed this truth and welcomed these three brothers in.

The beauty of this moment was both empty and complete.

My eyes were streaming tears and I couldn’t feel my feet.

And then, without a warning, I was pounced upon and grabbed.

I started, then, to understand. The understanding stabbed:

These brothers work for forces that care nothing for the heart,

And, though the policing uniform’s presentable and smart,

It’s like the cell I’m sitting in: solid, square and bleak.

No room in here for questions or the answers that we seek.

The uniform, the cell: I think they truly are the same;

And in this felling I let go the need to point and shame.

Our brothers and our sisters – they are trying to do their best

In a system that is broken and that needs to be addressed.

But how does one address an institution of control

That’s been corrupted by an entity that does not have a soul?

The law has been corrupted by financial corporate might.

No ONE is responsible. There’s no one here to fight.

So how do we say ‘No’ to the Corporate agenda?

Who, if not the police, will be humanity’s defender?

As I sit here in this prison cell I know not what to do,

Though I feel the answer stirring in the hearts of me and you.

Tuesday 10th September 2013 © Simon Welsh Poetry

SIMON’S ALTERNATIVE ‘JERUSALEM’: And did they frack?

And did they frack in ancient times?

Poisoning waters; once so clean?

And were their fil-thy rigs of doom

On England’s plea-sant-pastures seen?

And did the On-ly face of Truth

Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

And do the frackers know time is up

To use their dark sa-tanic drills.

Come join us here and sing your song:

Sing of the justice you desire.

Assist us NOW! These frackers are wrong.

We now remember: We’re the Choir.

We will not cease from camp-ing here,

Nor shall we rest till fracking’s banned.

Till we have kicked these frackers out

Of England’s green-and pleasant land.

5th August 2013 © Simon Welsh Poetry

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