Animals

Animals

This week on the blog, the theme has been animals. As I'm still recovering from Latitude and my birthday last week, I'll keep it short and sweet. No coloured sheep, just three very silly and tedious little pieces from me.


1.

If you've got the trots
After barbecue burgers
Perhaps they were horse.

2.

We're all a bit like sausages
With their meaty cumberland grin
Chewed up by machines like mincemeat
Encased in a glistening skin
Yes, we're all a bit like sausages
With a mish mash of flavours within
But please, no one tell Suarez
Or we'll be running down his chin

3.

A Song of Innocence

Little lamb, who made thee
Dost thou know that you're for tea?

------

Thanks for reading,
S.

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Animals or Humans?

I like animals, but have never had a pet of my own.  We've had family pets over the years, you know, rabbits, budgies, tortoises, a dog, cats and a fish, but never one of my own. Sometimes I think it would be wonderful to have a cat or a dog, but then I think that I have enough to deal with with my son and change my mind. Hee hee. I've always been more of a people person but even saying that, I think the most beautiful animals are horses. They represent everything I would like to be; loyal, hardworking, elegant, beautiful and wise. Look into a horses eyes and tell me that they're not any of the things I've just listed.

I also believe however that the biggest animals on this planet do not belong to any other species except our own.  The savagery, brutality, evil things people do to one another in a so called 'civil' society makes my blood boil and fear for the future in equal measures.  Other species don't necessarily know any better, they are just following their primal instincts. We however, as a race, are capable of so much good, yet there are elements who choose to ignore that simple act.

I read this week that a 14 year old Autistic boy from the South-East of England, was set upon by 3 males, who not satisfied with hurling insults at this young man, decided to slash his throat for good measure. Why? Because he was Autistic and 'different'?  As a Mother of an Autistic child I know exactly what I would like to do them should they ever be caught. But then, that's the difference between me and them, I know what I would like to do, but would never do it because it would be wrong. I know the difference and act accordingly!  The 3 males concerned may know the difference, but acted wrongly anyway! THEY are animals.

We see the same behaviour again and again in our society, be it in this country or abroad, oftentimes from people in positions of power.  Using the common man as a pawn to fight wars, or gain more power.  It's not right and it has to stop.


Is it you?

Neanderthals live in the here and now,
Use their fists to make their point,
Or weapons if they're cowardly,
the drawing of blood to anoint,
acceptance by their peers,
proof of their manhood,
they're hard enough to join the group,
The gang, the brotherhood.

Savage Leaders live among us,
disguised by suit and tie,
smiling serpentine civil servants,
making false promises and telling lies.
They like to suck up and promise the world,
the abolition of this or that,
the reforms, the referendums,
then do the opposite after the fact.

I am far from perfect,
but even I can see,
we cannot live this way forever,
looking the other way blindly.
There has to be someone,
who will stand up against what is wrong,
injustice, war, poverty,
need solving before too long.

Are you that very person,
who will stand for what is right?
Will take on the corruption,
the fraud by gigabyte.
Are you that very person,
who will stand for what is right?
Negotiating in war zones,
with words to inspire, not incite!



Anyway, thanks for reading. ;-) x

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14 Things I Saw At Latitude 2014

Given that I have only been back from Suffolk a couple of days, and I'm still reluctant to let go of my festival spirit, I thought I'd use this week's post to recapture some of the things I saw (and loved).

1) The brightly painted Latitude sheep - always a classic Latitude moment - plus it offers a tenuous link to this week's blog theme.

2) A lightning storm as we danced to Damon Albarn on the Obelisk Stage - the sky navy - the rain warm - and our dancing criminal - but it was like no experience I'd ever had before.

3) Luke Wright reading Dad Reins - that last line is caught in my mind and almost has me in tears every time I hear it.

4) D.I.Y - Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott - beautiful sunny Friday afternoon - sing-a-long.

5) Jemima Foxtrot mesmerised me with her poetry - her excitement was refreshing and infectious.

6) A guy wearing a basset hound costume in thirty degree heat.

7) Mining The Meaning - "Introduced by Dr Katy Shaw, a leading authority on the mining strike, the event will consider the social, cultural and political legacy of the strike and ask what connections can be drawn to the here-and-now in a post-Thatcher, post-Labour, pro-protest world." - Jemima Foxtrot, Luke Wright, Attila the Stockbroker, Michael Rossen and Andy Bennett read a selection of poems written by miners and their wives at the time of the strikes.

8) On Thursday night we went to the theatre and saw Kate Tempest's Hopelessly Devoted - Thought-provoking and arresting - impossible not to be moved and inspired.

9) Goat - psychedelic, bizarre, unfathomable - Shaun dancing and whooping like something possessed.

10) Vegan food in a field - Peckish Peacock - Healthy Carrot - Churros - And vegan cake

11) Helen Mort - I'd heard Helen read at Latitude 2012, but this year she was even better -if you haven't read any of her poetry then it is a MUST.

12) Hula Hoop Girl - She performed a host of amazing tricks as The Black Keys played - we couldn't take our eyes off her - I think Shaun fell in love.

13) A moth flying to the ground carrying a wasp - squeezing into the grass - burrowing out of sight.

14) Scroobius Pip ending our festival with 'Thou Shalt Always Kill' - packed tent with people spilling outside.   

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My thoughts are the antlers

Sorry it's a late one today.  As the sun sets on another day of salty underarms, burned lawns and panting dogs, here is an exercise (#3 to be precise) from one of my poetry workshops. 

In touch with nature

Stories and poems which include strong visual imagery are more likely to be retained by the reader.  Use visualisation to put yourself in a scene and make it vivid for yourself.  If you can see what you’re describing you’re more likely to be able to make it clear for the readers.

Exercise 3:

Write down an emotion:

 e.g. worry

Think of an animal to represent that emotion:

e.g. sparrow

Think of a scene for that animal to exist in:

e.g. garden path

Think of an action for that animal to carry out:

e.g. watching

Create your example of metaphorical nature-based imagery:

e.g. She paces at the window

       a sparrow on the garden path

       restless

       eyes searching the trees

       for the ill-fitting shadow

        

And here are some examples of superlative nature-based poetry which should inspire you to look at the details around you and capture them for your own nefarious poetic means.  Enjoy!

The moment Echo saw Narcissus

She was in love.  She followed him

Like a starving wolf

Following a stag too strong to be tackled.

And like a cat in winter at a fire

She could not edge close enough

To what singed her, and would burn her.

Ted Hughes, from Tales from Ovid (1997)

You know me as a turbulent ocean

clouded with thunder and drama.

Carolyn Kizer, from In the First Stanza

 

I’ll chatter metaphysics with a chimpanzee, now

                        my thoughts are the antlers of the Irish elk,

                                                the wings of flightless birds, peptides

                                                spelling out the phrase

                                                very like a whale

Brook Emery, from Very like a Whale

No lik the past which lies

Strewn around.  Nor sudden death.

No like a lover we’ll ken

An connect wi forever.

The hem of its goin drags across the sky.

Kathleen Jamie, from Skeins o Geese

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