Influence
Ian M
Posts: 123
Thames Waters
You cannot turn my warm colours off
I will bleed my heat in stripes all through the night
In reds, whites and blues for all those who may see
For all those suffering, like me, the effects of the chill –
My colours borne in a thaw of disregard for Any
Who would choose to bring her body near
All through this night the taps – hose-ban-defiant –
Left running to cleanse the streets with hi-mark reservoirs
Of corporeal defiance
Who shall be quenched, whom inundate
Come ye right near…
Confrontation with a pigeon
Who didn’t notice me looking at him
(There must have been some judgement in my eye)
Preening grey-violet plumage in an alcove just off platform 1 Gatwick Apt.
I could tell there was going to be trouble the moment
His beady orange eye caught mine,
But I was up for it, having been submitted more than usual
To delays and entrepreneurial diversions (failed)
Now, as a commuter into increasingly built-up areas,
I have found myself concentrating more and more on anything
That doesn’t remind me of everyday human maladaption,
And as wandering about all day gazing at the sky with fingers in my ears has its downsides,
I’ve taken to observing the wildlife.
So in treeless urban sprawl, if we discount domesticates, this leaves you with birds, bugs and the homeless.
I feel too guilty staring at beggars and tramps and junkies after a while, and people think ill of you if you’re crawling after anything that ‘creepeth’ or buzzeth irritatingly around in the sweaty heat (especially),
So in effect, this means that I am increasingly observing pigeons on my daily rounds
As they scavenge and squabble and flap their way clutteringly from in front of transport and pedestrians alike.
Mostly I see behaviour within members of the same species,
but I had an insight into their relationships beyond those circles on this particular occasion which I mention.
I wasn’t even feeling particularly avian that day (except for a mild dose of the ‘flu – haha),
But this daft bird upon encountering my gaze
Immediately went into the posturing motions that most of them seem to spend their time going through in keeping the company of their own kind.
The whole sticking out neck feathers, scratching pink feet around in a circle while bobbing up and down in machismo ruffles of sexual intimidation – all the rigmarole right there in his little niche with his dirty eyes flashing evil at me.
Of course, I was having none of it,
So I just stood calm, quizzically staring him down in an intra-species display of my own.
But I couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated
Grant personhood to anything beyond you, and you begin to see yourself reflected in a strange compassion
And all notions of superiority or security in easy knowledge evaporate, leaving an open furnace in which to be tried and purified anew
My corrective train came along and put a premature end to our exchange by obscuring the bird from my sight.
I’d used the approaching opportunity as a parting shot to get my last word in:
“This isn’t over,” I said earnestly with a finger pointing mockingly, quaveringly.
“I’ll see you the next time.”
A comfortable lie of course
But through cowardice or an admirable desire to keep the peace?
You be the judge.
I boarded the train.
Incredulity – for the best
‘Hello?!?’
‘This, the voice you were wanting to hear, attempting to refine its expression through numbing repetitions?!?’
‘These the muscles you were waiting for to be stretched in preparation?!?’
‘This the pattern behind the word behind the hollow invocation, behind the long-awaited invitation away from your desks and your mantras and your prescriptions and the unguarded colonisations of your jungle-deep swamp-wade river land awareness
?!?’
‘What was that?!?’
‘You think I should leave?!?’
Stomach bug
Poison leave my body. Can’t abide the sweetness of water denied, expelled before it can perform its cleansing function. Sweat-ened blankets useful for a day and two nights. Tea leaves unstrained, towel to cover the head, breathe in the vapours. Mortal fears assuaged by the speed dial and proximity of helping hands indifferent on the far side of a hoarsened cry. Conscious fevered ranting on the exhale. Detachment. Reach over the other side.
Expulsion upon expulsion from expulsion, without expulsion for lack of things further to expel. Racked.
tortoiseshell felinity:
if you can creep up on me
with no ill intent
as I goose-step my way along cautious asphalt
then what chance do I stand?
You cannot turn my warm colours off
I will bleed my heat in stripes all through the night
In reds, whites and blues for all those who may see
For all those suffering, like me, the effects of the chill –
My colours borne in a thaw of disregard for Any
Who would choose to bring her body near
All through this night the taps – hose-ban-defiant –
Left running to cleanse the streets with hi-mark reservoirs
Of corporeal defiance
Who shall be quenched, whom inundate
Come ye right near…
Confrontation with a pigeon
Who didn’t notice me looking at him
(There must have been some judgement in my eye)
Preening grey-violet plumage in an alcove just off platform 1 Gatwick Apt.
I could tell there was going to be trouble the moment
His beady orange eye caught mine,
But I was up for it, having been submitted more than usual
To delays and entrepreneurial diversions (failed)
Now, as a commuter into increasingly built-up areas,
I have found myself concentrating more and more on anything
That doesn’t remind me of everyday human maladaption,
And as wandering about all day gazing at the sky with fingers in my ears has its downsides,
I’ve taken to observing the wildlife.
So in treeless urban sprawl, if we discount domesticates, this leaves you with birds, bugs and the homeless.
I feel too guilty staring at beggars and tramps and junkies after a while, and people think ill of you if you’re crawling after anything that ‘creepeth’ or buzzeth irritatingly around in the sweaty heat (especially),
So in effect, this means that I am increasingly observing pigeons on my daily rounds
As they scavenge and squabble and flap their way clutteringly from in front of transport and pedestrians alike.
Mostly I see behaviour within members of the same species,
but I had an insight into their relationships beyond those circles on this particular occasion which I mention.
I wasn’t even feeling particularly avian that day (except for a mild dose of the ‘flu – haha),
But this daft bird upon encountering my gaze
Immediately went into the posturing motions that most of them seem to spend their time going through in keeping the company of their own kind.
The whole sticking out neck feathers, scratching pink feet around in a circle while bobbing up and down in machismo ruffles of sexual intimidation – all the rigmarole right there in his little niche with his dirty eyes flashing evil at me.
Of course, I was having none of it,
So I just stood calm, quizzically staring him down in an intra-species display of my own.
But I couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated
Grant personhood to anything beyond you, and you begin to see yourself reflected in a strange compassion
And all notions of superiority or security in easy knowledge evaporate, leaving an open furnace in which to be tried and purified anew
My corrective train came along and put a premature end to our exchange by obscuring the bird from my sight.
I’d used the approaching opportunity as a parting shot to get my last word in:
“This isn’t over,” I said earnestly with a finger pointing mockingly, quaveringly.
“I’ll see you the next time.”
A comfortable lie of course
But through cowardice or an admirable desire to keep the peace?
You be the judge.
I boarded the train.
Incredulity – for the best
‘Hello?!?’
‘This, the voice you were wanting to hear, attempting to refine its expression through numbing repetitions?!?’
‘These the muscles you were waiting for to be stretched in preparation?!?’
‘This the pattern behind the word behind the hollow invocation, behind the long-awaited invitation away from your desks and your mantras and your prescriptions and the unguarded colonisations of your jungle-deep swamp-wade river land awareness
?!?’
‘What was that?!?’
‘You think I should leave?!?’
Stomach bug
Poison leave my body. Can’t abide the sweetness of water denied, expelled before it can perform its cleansing function. Sweat-ened blankets useful for a day and two nights. Tea leaves unstrained, towel to cover the head, breathe in the vapours. Mortal fears assuaged by the speed dial and proximity of helping hands indifferent on the far side of a hoarsened cry. Conscious fevered ranting on the exhale. Detachment. Reach over the other side.
Expulsion upon expulsion from expulsion, without expulsion for lack of things further to expel. Racked.
tortoiseshell felinity:
if you can creep up on me
with no ill intent
as I goose-step my way along cautious asphalt
then what chance do I stand?
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
nice
found them the morning after and didn't remember writing them.
it was my handwriting though. just about...
that's the way it should be!
cheers
Which is good, because I've been so damn bored at work lately.
I have a window next to my 3-sided cubicle.
So I read all your poems and then contemplate them, while admiring the view.
I realize now that
I have a lot to learn.
thanks.
... and you've dropped me another name I've not heard before. Who??
I checked out Tony Harrison and really enjoyed reading his work (though I wasn't so up to speed with all his classical references):- is this another 'influence' I should pursue?
thanks Bu2 for the nice image.
... and don't we all (have a lot to learn)?
you could begin by spelling 'realize' and all those other izes with an 's' - too many zees and people start to panic