Camp Rules: a poem

Camp Rules

A poem by Kevin Higgins

By all means explore what remains of the world

on the other side of the forest. 

But be back within the perimeter fence

by breakfast, your mouth motorised

by where they’re going wrong, or we’ll begin

making a sad sound when we say your name, 

and tilting our heads slightly to the left.

Questions are encouraged if the answer’s

the long form version of ‘yes’. Discipline

will be maintained by Nullifier Boyd’s

righteous bamboo stick, so big

it never need prove its existence.

Here, no one evades their taxes

or mentions the unfortunate business

 you witnessed in the main marquee

 this morning. Out there, the last thing

 many women notice is that the man

 strangling them is in desperate need

 of a dentist.

In the new society we’re building

we’ve abolished rape and murder.

We permit no such words.