The Kintyre Forum Poem ( First line)

[hugh]

Martin.

Thanks, mate. I spend a lot of time on youtube, hadn't thought on the poetry angle before, but I will now.

Govan Girl.

Yeah, I thought you'd have heard? Didn't get a lot of publicity at the time. Suppose news people thought "Strictly Come Dancing" or the latest cricket score were more worthy of attention. I'd have written out "To Whom It May Concern" in full, but I'm a lazy sod.

[Govangirl]

I'd have written out "To Whom It May Concern" in full, but I'm a lazy sod.

It would depend on what version. The latest was changed to take into account the Iraq War.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YvgREoDWQqA

To Whom It May Concern


I was run over by the truth one day.
Ever since the accident I've walked this way
So stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Heard the alarm clock screaming with pain,
Couldn't find myself so I went back to sleep again
So fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Every time I shut my eyes all I see is flames
Made a marble phone book and I carved all the names
So coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

I smell something burning, hope it's just my brains.
They're only dropping peppermints and daisy-chains
So stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

Where were you at the time of the crime?
Down by the Cenotaph drinking slime
So chain my tongue with whisky
Stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

You put your bombers in, you put your conscience out,
You take the human being and you twist it all about
So scrub my skin with women,
Chain my tongue with whisky
Stuff my nose with garlic
Coat my eyes with butter
Fill my ears with silver
Stick my legs in plaster
Tell me lies about Vietnam.

First read out in Trafalgar Square in 1964. Read again Saturday 13 October 2001 at the Anti-War demonstration in London (but 'Vietnam' amended to 'Iraq')

"It is about Vietnam , But it is still relevant. It's about sitting faithfully in England while thousands of miles away terrible atrocities are being committed in our name.'' Mitchell

[Martin]

It is a very powerful piece.

[ionnsaigh]

Joe after interference - finished third
the saint beat you to the spot - Joe
essentially you shared a common deed
saving Mother Russia - her hour of need
here me try to come to terms
as they say bad things about you Joe

for fact forget fiction - Joe
I remember the fascist foe
mayhem murder - one mild may
murderous mob - cut their sway
death destruction dark and deep
yet they say bad things about you -Joe

my my - how things change
for you - the falling shining star
they weigh up - compare calculate conclude - genocide
when those traitors of humanity - starved the cities
hunger cold disease - babies cry such a roar
rich Kulaks laughed - crying the price of corn
wanting more - than we could give
bad things they say about you Joe.

[hugh]

Ah, Bazooka Joe
Where did he go?
You got two for the price of one
A crap cartoon
With a trite punchline
And a piece of bubblegum.

[ionnsaigh]

No no, not that Joe
the one who was almighty
no bubblegum - or penny card
just glasses - that's Joe Ninety

Happy New Year - hugh
all the best.

[Govangirl]

Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand?

[ionnsaigh]

Mist patchy at first
thickens before my eyes
racking up cold air - two degrees
the glow from my cigarette
captured their attention
one first - then the other
food foraging - I suspect
I called out to them
soft and friendly
here boy here -spoken with a small soft kissing noise
they both stopped - frozen to the spot
here boy - here I stand - the human
I wanted to offer something
the drink no doubt
bye bye boys - off on your hunt
me I'm off into the warmth of the party
glad I'm not a fox - at least tonight.

[ionnsaigh]

Here they come
tank and gun
sweeping locust
across land
Jew hand
Yankee gun.

[ionnsaigh]

Festive spirit - dry river bed
long since it's last plop plop
plastic lights on plastic tree
Santa toys - Rudolf red nose
snowmen balloons pink candy floss
cards strung on living wall
merry Christmas to one and all.

[ionnsaigh]

Gaza cries crime - mourns more mass murder
pale plumes - poor poor Palestinian people - pile pyre
shocking silence stinks - shames slave Obama
scorn shock shatter scatter - siege scream surrender
Israel ignites intentionally ignores - international indignation
spark scorch send shiver - frosty fearful fear
hang head hold down - daily death destruction
forever fight for freedom - an face the fearless foe.

[A Horse called Juan Face]

Good morning executioner
I've done these things you can't ignore
Still waiting for your knife to come
And cut me like it's always done
Reject the light, embrace the dark
Rip right through cemented cards
Remember all the lies you wrote
I made them true just to spite you, I know you hate me

I'm sorry for the life you lead
I've read the lines, blank in between
You seem to know just what i need
A broken heart and pleasant dreams

Never gave you enough of a start
Thought vengeance was an empty threat
No use for smiles after the click
Impotent veins just will not work
I know the words on your Hymn sheet
I guess that's why we can't agree
Congrats to my murderer
I'll bite on down, you pull them out, so slowly

Rain falls down the window pane
And gives me peace in these last days
One last prayer to you my Lord
If you exist, open the door
I'm sorry

[hugh]

I appreciate the chicken wings
And I love all the other things
But the night's still young, you see
And extra-time's finished....it's penalties -
Please don't block the T.V.

[ionnsaigh]

Chicken wings - fine fine things
when firmly attached to the chicken
my love for her blinded - alas the sad reality
a used tae think she disnae mean
tae put her erse - right in front of ma telly
as years go by - I now know why
the fitbaw she hates oan the telly.

[ionnsaigh]

Pretty puffs - white phosphorous
ex American shells - burst the sky
left over - a long forgotten war
leaving long downward trails - obscures the horror
the smell of garlic - tainted the Gaza air
a baby burns
below those pretty puffs
puffs pretty - pretty phosphorous puffs
a baby burns below.