Lynne Jones – February 2025

Inspired by Naomi Klein’s 2017 book, The Shock Doctrine, written shortly after Trump came into power.

Shock doctrine chaos overwhelm by Lynne 2025 

Overwhelming Orders from the powers that be, 
Means we are risking our hold on democracy. 
And as Naomi Klein’s “Shock Doctrine” told us, “BEWARE!” 
Be vigilant when there’s change and chaos out there. 

And if your compassions fatigued with sheer overload, 
Distracted and overwhelmed till your head implodes, 
Unpopular policies are being pushed through. 
Be laissez-faire till disaster capitalism disenfranchises you too. 

And while you can’t hold the troubles of the entire earth, 
You can’t care about it all, yet there is so much worth, 
In picking something you DO care about, 
And standing in front of people to shout out! 

So, when I heard “Defending Women from Gender Ideology?” 
I had to shout – “Are You fucking kidding me?” 

So, I’ll let you know my fight, 
It’s to advocate for transgender rights! 

So that’s what I do. 
And here are some ideas for you. 

Start by teaching the kids what’s meant, 
By giving really really enthusiastic consent. 
Look at the length of the working day. 
Explore attitudes to paternity pay. 
Explode The Industrial Marriage Complex. 
Gender pay divide?  Even the decks! 
Make it safe for the people in the Gaza Strip. 
Bring back Bollington’s tip! 
Worry about global warming for the global south, 
Or that in Denton children’s teeth fall out. 
That women are cancelling out Blake Lively.  
A “Yey!” for menopausal women’s sexual ascendancy! 
Get the plastic out of the sea. 
Eat more broccoli. 
Don’t sleep walk into obesity. 
And support marginalised communities. 
The overturning of Roe v Wade. 
Environmental degradation in the Everglades. 
AI fuelling child pornography. 
Care home kids, trafficked sexually. 
The fight against gender-based violence needs cash. 
Education to recognise a meningitis rash. 
So many older people that live alone, 
Call your mother now (if you can), pick up the phone! 
Silly thing to say, your phones always at hand … 
“A tea gwa goi” – (Tibetan for “please put down your phone”) 
It’s a mindfulness greeting from another land! 
Nothing can be changed until its faced. 
Black people don’t want to talk to white people about race. 
Child care that costs a bomb. 
A nightmare for a single mom! 
And I’m not forgetting it’s hard too, 
With the expectations placed upon those that were dressed in blue. 
And what it means if you don’t fit in. 
Vogue this year says we need to be anorexically thin. 
Attitudes that limit our possibilities. 
Poetry that questions our fucking sensibilities! 

I can’t save the world on my own. 
So please don’t roll your eyes and moan, 
When I repeat again that MY fight, 
It’s to advocate for transgender rights.  

Reflexivity: 

What did you think of this poem? 

What did it evoke for you? 

What issues of social justice are you interested in, and why?