The politician and the paparazzi

A face like a gargoyle. One blinded eye.
Passion trapped inside his brogue.
Yes, he made mistakes, fumbled,

tripped through figures, shouted
when he might have listened, blew his top
and finally the reputation that was really his.

Cyclops, unforgiven, torn down by hounds,
demonised,
bewildered, as when
he cradled his dead daughter in his arms.

They snapped him even then.

Hilary Elfick