Socialist with a Human Face by Stuart Rees

Tribute to journalist Paul Foot*, 1937-2004 (from "Tell Me the Truth About War" Ginninderra Press, available Gleebooks, $24)

From appearances in tributes

he is a weather-hardened bosun

whose books were his compass,

whose articles of resistance

created charts for others to follow.

His marching understanding

with those who enjoyed

the devil in his humour,

forged friendships

as nurturing as his romance with Shelley.

As unencumbered by possessions

as wild geese flying south for winter,

he inspired those who watched

by staying airborne

towards only one destination.

He found the winds to blow

over the sludge of hypocrisy,

his words flowed unstoppable

towards ideals that anyone might ride

the motion from his waves.

He was against the violence of conquerors,

he saw as no better than spivs

those who posed in politics

or sold phoney products

even from judges' benches.

He was for the disadvantaged,

the hair shirts of conscience

and the stifled

who needed his replies

as evidence of their innocence.

Never an optional extra,

his radicalism was the bloodstream,

his self mockery an abiding badge

even for the crutches

of his final years.

* Editor’s Note: Paul Foot came from a famous family of Liberals, MPs and peers. His uncle was the former Labour party leader, Michael Foot.