26 November 2013

Tuesday Poem: Let's Not Die



Let’s not die. Let’s hide
when the black sack comes
to close over our heads.

Let’s sneak away
through access tunnels
down deserted alleyways.

Let’s pitch our tent
beneath the pines
where mountain bikes don’t go.

Let’s live like mice
steal cheese and bread
from silent houses.

Let's watch our son
when he’s sleeping
so he thinks we’re only ghosts.


Credit Note: This is one of three new poems by me that are included in JAAM 31, the 2013 issue of JAAM magazine, which had a very successful launch a week or so ago.

The Tuesday Poemis by Grace Taylor.

09 November 2013

I Can't Give You Anything But Time


Viv Albertine (The Slits), Keith Levene (PIL) and Mick Jones (The Clash), 1976

Mick Jones and Viv Albertine, 2013



Mick sings about Viv: "Train in Vain" - lyrics



Viv sings about home: "Confessions of a MILF" - lyrics

Mick Jones plays guitar on the studio version of "Confessions of a MILF", from Viv Albertine's recent solo album The Vermilion Border.

Viv Albertine stars (with Liam Gillick and Tom Hiddleston) in Joanna Hogg's new film Exhibition, and her memoir Clothes Clothes Clothes Music Music Music Boys Boys Boys is scheduled for publication in 2014.

05 November 2013

Tuesday Poem: The Johnsonville Volcano



The sea has flooded Lambton Quay,
turned buses into hydrofoils.
A subtle charcoal pinstripe is all the rage
in this year's range of swimsuits for officials.

The Johnsonville Volcano erupted on Saturday,
turning three prime retail outlets into slag.
Brave shoppers, risking a fiery death,
shepherded whiteware to safety.

Blame isostatic rebound. Blame white elephants
and their love of motorway construction.
We’ve learned that indoor sports centres
readily convert to swimming pools.

We’ve learned that nature doesn't stuff around.
Wear something light and ash-resistant.
Get on the road early. Fit asbestos tyres
to the wheels of your asbestos car.

Credit Note: This is one of three new poems by me that are included in JAAM 31, the 2013 issue of JAAM magazine, which has just been published and will be launched in a couple of weeks. They are the first new poems I'd written in quite a while, so I'm very pleased to see them in print. It looks like a great issue.

Tim says: A little scientific note: "isostatic rebound" is the rise of land masses that were depressed by the huge weight of ice sheets during the last glacial period - but in this poem, I'm thinking of Antarctica rising as the ice sheets slough off due to climate change, and its proposed consequence of increased volcanic activity.

The Tuesday Poem: Has not maintained a silence.