CLR James once said
internationalism must be based
on the national scene.
You’ll find on this
even social democrats agree
such Lisa Nandy
though hers is more
funding for towns and kicking refugees
in the teeth.
Not me, though,
when I check my history
I know who has my solidarity
when I open Capital,
that broken spined tome,
and read of workers evicted from their parish,
I think of Palestinians forced to demolish
their own homes
and migrants left to perish,
and black workers banned from organising
this isn’t a lecture,
I’m not particularly smart or wisened
I just recognise:
no history is an island.
