(Opening scene of stream of dejected, burdened stragglers of all ages
on a road somewhere in eastern Europe)
A pestilence in Budapest,
bleeding out of the shrapnel wound
that is The Levant, gaping migrants,
outcasts of the Peak Oil Feast,
congealing scabs, starving for healing
in Hungary.
(Camera pans out and away – into the studio
where a slick Steve addresses his unseen audience)
“These are the contestants of Survivor Syria,
our latest reality TV show of the highest ratings.
And now for tonight’s episode we cross live to
Walther Cruikshank: …â€
(Switch to reporter / presenter at railstation)
“Ah … thanks Steve, yes folks tonight we’re in
for a real ball-buster …â€
(The railstation’s megaphone blares out – in jackboot stocatto,
drowning out Walther’s puny voice)
‘Achtung, Achtung – alle Migranten !â€
Your free ride has been cancelled.
Once your name is drawn,
you will leave the embarking area immediately.
The tribe has spoken.
Return peacefully to your place of origin.
This announcement will not be repeated
and no correspondence will be entered into.â€
(Camera leaves station, switches to recorded clips from the previous week’s action)
From the beaches of Tripoli they swam,
their bodies washing up on the shores of Sicily,
like late ancient Cathaginians answering the call
of a forgotten and defeated Hannibal.
From Damascus they walked to Istanbul,
and like The Apostle, were struck down
by the Light of God,
yet blind they wandered on.
In Vienna they suffocated in the waltzing heat
of a too well insulated fridge –
the road-sign might just have read –
‘Auschwitz – Achtung alle Migranten !’
(Camera picks out a buckled over hag with a snotty child strapped to her back)
Old strong grandmothers on one last road,
backs bent burdened by young sick babies
nursing at breasts wrinkled like the Roads of Life
sleeping in cold forests on dangerous nights,
only a baton-charge from the borderguards.
(Walther’s high-pitched voice inserts itself into the scene with the following words)
“Are you ready for tomorrow’s challenge ?
Wanna see what you’re playing for ?
– your life.â€
“Steve, it’s back to you …â€
(Steve now relaxes on a leather, brass-studded
seat reading out aloud from a newspaper)
“They are gone with a wind called Diaspora,
blown wherever she would blow,
and like seeds scattered on the stoney ground,
they are abandoned to the heat
in Syriza, and in Syria.
Stay tuned for surprising, uprising scenes
from our next episode.
Good night and God bless.â€