Two thousand year old man found in the peat
Bog known as Lindow Moss, down in Wilmslow,
Was first exhibited off Oxford Street,
At the Manchester Museum, but go
To London, like Dick Whittington, said Bow
Bell, and the British Museum preserved
His ancient hide, and people all sighed ‘Oh!
That’s so amazing, darling. I just lerved
Seeing that Lindow Man! When’s dinner served?’
And so did Pete Moss - his other name - eat,
On his last day, before the cruel blow,
Before his throat was slit; that meal conserved
Because undigested; his legs and feet
Missing, having decomposed long ago…
Fri 18 Apr 2008
Sunday, 2 January 2011
591 - Naked
Watching the film ‘Naked’ directed by
The Salford-born Mike Leigh, and laughing at
David Thewlis’ unconvincing try
At a Salford accent. Sounds more like that
Wonderful accent, Scouse. Dave was begat,
However, in Black (not in Liver) pool.
Although he’s generally a real twat,
Everyone likes him, loves him. He’s a fool,
Or is he rather the director’s tool,
There to act out Mike’s fantasies? For I
Wouldn’t mind directing sex scenes with ‘fat,’
‘Old’ women characters still worth a drool
Cos they’re all played by sexy women. Why
Act so middle class, proletariat?
Thur 17 Apr 2008
The Salford-born Mike Leigh, and laughing at
David Thewlis’ unconvincing try
At a Salford accent. Sounds more like that
Wonderful accent, Scouse. Dave was begat,
However, in Black (not in Liver) pool.
Although he’s generally a real twat,
Everyone likes him, loves him. He’s a fool,
Or is he rather the director’s tool,
There to act out Mike’s fantasies? For I
Wouldn’t mind directing sex scenes with ‘fat,’
‘Old’ women characters still worth a drool
Cos they’re all played by sexy women. Why
Act so middle class, proletariat?
Thur 17 Apr 2008
590 - Carry on dying
Hello everybody, how are you all?
Well, not so good, but we must carry on,
Like Kenneth Williams, maybe appalled,
But determined to try to eke some fun
Out of this existence, even when some
Try to prevent it. What’s the bloody point?
Well, good question. Perhaps you should ask mum
Or dad: what did they get out of this joint?
I spose, if they’re still alive, they might point
To younger days when life was still a ball,
A time that they still like to reflect on,
When hope still burned, when older ones anoint
Them with what they had learned before the fall,
Before eternity’s oblivion.
Wed 16 Apr 2008
Well, not so good, but we must carry on,
Like Kenneth Williams, maybe appalled,
But determined to try to eke some fun
Out of this existence, even when some
Try to prevent it. What’s the bloody point?
Well, good question. Perhaps you should ask mum
Or dad: what did they get out of this joint?
I spose, if they’re still alive, they might point
To younger days when life was still a ball,
A time that they still like to reflect on,
When hope still burned, when older ones anoint
Them with what they had learned before the fall,
Before eternity’s oblivion.
Wed 16 Apr 2008
589 - Trying to find words
What can I see in mother’s living room?
Two small round tables with jigsaws on top,
On which lie things belonging to my mum.
Remote controls which can play, pause or stop.
There’s phones and pens. She’s just popped in to pop
My hot drink on the coaster: Horlicks with
Blobs on the top. Try not to slurp or stop.
All mothers like good manners (not a myth).
Popped to hospital again to see Geoff.
A game or two of Scrabble. Had to zoom
Along with word selection, or a strop
Was possible from mum. Seen and heard kith
And kin making enquiries. How’s Geoff doin’?
Not good but not too bad, that old grandpop.
Tue 15 Apr 2008
Two small round tables with jigsaws on top,
On which lie things belonging to my mum.
Remote controls which can play, pause or stop.
There’s phones and pens. She’s just popped in to pop
My hot drink on the coaster: Horlicks with
Blobs on the top. Try not to slurp or stop.
All mothers like good manners (not a myth).
Popped to hospital again to see Geoff.
A game or two of Scrabble. Had to zoom
Along with word selection, or a strop
Was possible from mum. Seen and heard kith
And kin making enquiries. How’s Geoff doin’?
Not good but not too bad, that old grandpop.
Tue 15 Apr 2008
588 - Life hangs
Mum’s neighbour Barbara paid a visit,
But as she sat here we heard the phone ring.
I picked it up, as my mum’s scared of it,
Frightened to hear bad news that it might bring.
I screwed up my face (just concentrating,
Because these cordless phones can sound so faint)
And the nurse said Geoff’s deteriorating.
Bye Bye Barbara! We showed no restraint
In getting to the hospital. No saint
Behind the wheel was I, as I spun it
Into Arrowe Park car park. Listening
To the consultant’s update that seemed meant
To resign us to Geoff’s decline, spirits
Sank swiftly, but the gift of life’s kicking…
Mon 14 Mar 2008
But as she sat here we heard the phone ring.
I picked it up, as my mum’s scared of it,
Frightened to hear bad news that it might bring.
I screwed up my face (just concentrating,
Because these cordless phones can sound so faint)
And the nurse said Geoff’s deteriorating.
Bye Bye Barbara! We showed no restraint
In getting to the hospital. No saint
Behind the wheel was I, as I spun it
Into Arrowe Park car park. Listening
To the consultant’s update that seemed meant
To resign us to Geoff’s decline, spirits
Sank swiftly, but the gift of life’s kicking…
Mon 14 Mar 2008
587 - Together through thin
Another day mothering my mother…
But its nice to repay that oldest debt.
I’m getting help in this task from brother
And from sister, reducing her upset,
Encouraging her, helping interpret
The coded words of medics that she hears
Through echoing corridors of regret
And harshly lit operating theatres
In which we, untrained surgeons, stitch her fears
With words and looks, even hugs, as other
Family, with issues that they can’t forget,
Hide old resentments, do their best to cheer.
Mysterious old wounds, undercover,
Fester though doctor’s targets are all met.
Sun 13 Apr 2008
But its nice to repay that oldest debt.
I’m getting help in this task from brother
And from sister, reducing her upset,
Encouraging her, helping interpret
The coded words of medics that she hears
Through echoing corridors of regret
And harshly lit operating theatres
In which we, untrained surgeons, stitch her fears
With words and looks, even hugs, as other
Family, with issues that they can’t forget,
Hide old resentments, do their best to cheer.
Mysterious old wounds, undercover,
Fester though doctor’s targets are all met.
Sun 13 Apr 2008
586 - Doctor, a miracle
And so another day draws to its end
With all of us still here, or so it seems,
Because we only know family and friends
Survived to face another night of dreams.
We don’t see or care about awkward themes
Like strangers whose time came some time today,
Except in hospital wards where bright beams
Of unforgiving light show all that they
Can do is not enough. Though patients stay
Longer than in the old days, nurses send
The beds on wheels up corridors; no screams
From onlookers; doors closed - please look away.
Gods’ laps remain decisive. Still, pretend
That we have a say, fine medical teams.
Sat 12 Apr 2008
With all of us still here, or so it seems,
Because we only know family and friends
Survived to face another night of dreams.
We don’t see or care about awkward themes
Like strangers whose time came some time today,
Except in hospital wards where bright beams
Of unforgiving light show all that they
Can do is not enough. Though patients stay
Longer than in the old days, nurses send
The beds on wheels up corridors; no screams
From onlookers; doors closed - please look away.
Gods’ laps remain decisive. Still, pretend
That we have a say, fine medical teams.
Sat 12 Apr 2008
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