The Great Mandate

They call this the greatest mandate ever;
even though the results split the UK
in half, more than one union near severed -
they call this the greatest mandate ever
when half the voters go unheard – inferred 
consent through barefaced lies, flagrantly
they call this the greatest mandate ever
even though the results split the UK

they call this the great mandate. “How?” I ask,
when it was founded on fears and deceits,
raising profiles of hate, giving them masks;
they call this the great mandate. How, I ask,
do they ignore the UK’s biggest march
by citing only half a crooked plebiscite* -
they call this the great mandate; “how”, I ask,
when this was founded on fears and deceits.


Antonia Sara Zenkevitch


*plebiscite = a synonym for 'referendum' 

Word-weaver and artist. I'm Co-founder of Nott Normal; a Nottinghamshire based independent accessible, adaptive and gently provocative arts collaboration. Resident story-weaver for set of virtual Cottage in the Woods courses by Yelala from late autumn 2020, early Spring 2021. My writing and art have recently been part of Poems on Prescription, the National Museum of Justice's (UK) acclaimed Letters of Restraint, and The National Holocaust Memorial Centre's (UK) What is Testimony? Art and written work has appeared in various independent publications including LeftLion, Miknaf Haaretz, and Proliterat. I'm a warrior of various disabilities and chronic illnesses with an MA in Human Security (Peace and Human Development). I've worked in creative conflict resolution, sustainability & interfaith work. I stood for parliament (& local gov) in 2015, getting 9.9%, in the top 20 national results for the party. I've since left politics unless you count negotiating between three cats and a laptop. I love animals, my favourite humans, wild landscapes, accessible cities and the sea. View all posts by antoniazen