C O N F L I C T

A series of Poems by Mr Damian Robin

Ethan Gutmann - Photo credit Si Gross

3 - LEGACY : GOOD NUMBERS OR GOOD WORKS

TO ETHAN GUTMANN WHO WAS MUSING ON FACEBOOK, FROM HIS ISOLATED GRANDPARENTS’ HOME IN VERMONT DURING LOCKDOWN, THAT HAVING PUBLISHED TWO BOOKS IN HIS LIFE WAS NOT ENOUGH. HE HAD BLOWN THE WHISTLES ON THE AMERICAN BUSINESS DELUSION IN CHINA IN THE 1990S AND SHINED A LIGHT ON THE DEPRAVITY OF THE SUPPRESSION OF FALUN GONG BY THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY. HIS PARENTS WERE PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

Please don’t persist in this mistake

Of thinking you’re a fraud or fake.

It may be quiet in Vermont,

More hands-free time than you might want,

But don’t let broke thoughts buy your head.

Encourage your full heart instead.

Don’t let some moment’s mortgaged state

Invade your home with cuckoo hate.

Your parents used psychologies

To melt away such lies as these.

And those whose truths you have revealed,

Will help with lips you have unsealed

To place perspective round your flaws

With strong benevolence like yours