Did you see the people marching?
Read their banners, hear their voices?
Think carefully, my Friend,
When making calculated choices,
Remove essential services?
The journey would be far
If you are cradling an injured child
in the back seat of a car,
Or, if you are in labour
Your body wracked with pain,
And fear for a precious baby,
Is driving you insane.
Spend cash to cut down violence,
Preserve what we hold dear.
Then replace the stress it caused
With a different kind of fear?
Fear that, as we are vulnerable,
We must live every day,
Knowing help in an emergency,
Could be too far away?
Yes, you must count the pennies,
And this is understood,
But to cut back vital services,
Defies the common good.
There must be other avenues,
Financially to try,
Think hard, Decision Maker,
Or the innocent could die!

Ann Bissett