Commonword Blogs

For some strange reason, having not travlled further out of Manachester than, well Wigan for about five years, I find myself hauling suitcases from conveyor belts to conveyor belts all in the name of literature. Thsi blog will be an attempt to capture my mood, musings and feelings of these places as I encounter them (well, if I cant blog in real time, I'll try to update as soon as poss).

The world's richest bank has been putting the armlock on me. Re-payment of a largish loan begins in 35 (sigh)days' time.

I don't know if you've ever given-up on hearing from a most valued friend then in some unlikely location walked right into said individual
These recent experiences of mine which look set to resolve the bank's problems were several times as good as that.

First off, Babs came on the line. Me neither I'd never heard of her. After confirming my identity she had well over 100% of my attention

Question..Pete / Martin

these 30 poems - can you subit poems already published?

yvonne

Again, thanks to Pete & Metal Monkey for your comments. This version incorporates yr advice & text from the original draft I wrote inspired by a painting in the "Black President" exhibition at Barbican in 2004.

Fela!
From “Fela: Amen, Amen, Amen” 2002 by Barkley Hendricks

Spliff like a log, yr head in a halo,
ancestors hang around yr shoulders
like smoke,
a bushman agbada,
in skintight gold lamé you squeeze
the barbwire heart of Afrika.
No animal wears that skin.
Akuba (Oranyan)

Oh egungun in straw mask expanding infinite heads,

Thanx to Pete & Metal Monkey for yr comments. I've revised the poem, integrating yr comments & some more elements of the original painting that inspired it.

Fela!
From “Fela: Amen, Amen, Amen” 2002 by Barkley Hendricks

Spliff like a log, yr head in a cloud,
ancestors hang around yr shoulders
like smoke,
in skintight gold lame you squeeze
the barbwire heart of Afrika.
No animal wears that skin.
Akuba (Oranyan)

Oh egungun in straw mask expanding infinite heads,
terrifying liars & cheats & snakes & crocodiles,
animals in human skin
with their Swiss bank billions infamy

Ebo

Choking choking
molten lead in my breast.
Each morning brings return.
I am a shell, alien
blood black in my stools.

My imaginary ancestors remind me
until I give myself to spirit I am bound
to repeat the rituals of fire & water.

In my belly, the ulcer burns
& my heart,
like a leaf twisting up from flames
or a spark crashing into dust,
turns away again
from love’s release
to face the night.

but i blame the medication! I was just wondering if it was possible to have today's class at my place, its not exceptionally big but i'm sure it can hold everyone. i just can't bear to miss another class and honestly, i could do with the literary company. I need the creative intelligence!
So please would you all consider it (i'm wringing my hands and batting my eyelids here). However, i realise that it is short notice, so if its impossible to pull off. Its OK.
Thanks