Showing posts with label moon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moon. Show all posts

Saturday, 9 November 2019

accusing moon


[[ this one's done - minimalist portrait of Greta Thunberg  ]] 

listen to her
it's almost midnight
under an accusing moon

there is no ask
there is no tell
we push through 
we push right through your hell

am I alarming?
our house is on fire 
am I alarmed?
I am the fire alarm

listen to her
it's almost midnight
under an accusing moon

= = = = =
done
= = = = =

[[ 

almost midnight = like the doomsday clock


toll / tolled / untold
bell 

tell  [[ a/the tell ]]
noun
noun: tell; plural noun: tells
        1. (especially in poker) an unconscious action that is thought to betray an attempted deception.

A tell in poker is a change in a player's behavior or demeanor that is claimed by some to give clues to that player's assessment of their hand. A player gains an advantage if they observe and understand the meaning of another player's tell, particularly if the tell is unconscious and reliable. Sometimes a player may fake a tell, hoping to induce their opponents to make poor judgments in response to the false tell. More often, people try to avoid giving out a tell, by maintaining a poker face regardless of how strong or weak their hand is.

[[ in terms of her straight face? there will be no tell? 

there is no asking
there is no tell
we push through without you

]] 

]]

[[ 

Greta Thunberg 

”So we have not come here to beg the world leaders to care for our future. They have ignored us in the past and they will ignore us again. We have come here to let them know that change is coming whether they like it or not.”

"Our house is on fire. I am here to say, our house is on fire."

capture her
  • face - wide, round, pale, unsmiling, an accusing moon
  • single-mindedness - she could be singing and dancing like her little sister, but she drops everything in her schoolgirl life to fix the world
  • bravery - faces up to world leaders without blinking (literally?)


We are not begging -- We do not beg
We are done asking -- We do not ask
We are done
We are pushing through

Look at this pearl

Greta = short version of Margarethe = "pearl" - her wide round pale face?

tell (plural tells)
1. A reflexive, often habitual behavior, especially one occurring in a context that often features attempts at deception by persons under psychological stress (such as a poker game or police interrogation), that reveals information that the person exhibiting the behavior is attempting to withhold.
2. (archaic) That which is told; a tale or account. quotations ▼
3. (Internet) A private message to an individual in a chat room; a whisper.

]]


related 

Malala Yousafzai (Urdu: ملالہ یوسفزئی‎; Pashto: ملاله یوسفزۍ‎ [məˈlaːlə jusəf ˈzəj];[2] born 12 July 1997),[2][3] also known mononymously as Malala, is a Pakistani activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate.[4] She is known for human rights advocacy, especially the education of women and children in her native Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northwest Pakistan, where the local Taliban had at times banned girls from attending school. Her advocacy has grown into an international movement, and according to former Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, she has become "the most prominent citizen" of the country.[5]
[snip]
On 9 October 2012, while on a bus in the Swat District, after taking an exam, Yousafzai and two other girls were shot by a Taliban gunman in an assassination attempt in retaliation for her activism; the gunman fled the scene. Yousafzai was hit in the head with a bullet and remained unconscious and in critical condition at the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, but her condition later improved enough for her to be transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, UK.[7] The attempt on her life sparked an international outpouring of support for Yousafzai. Deutsche Welle reported in January 2013 that Yousafzai may have become "the most famous teenager in the world".[8] Weeks after the attempted murder, a group of fifty leading Muslim clerics in Pakistan issued a fatwā against those who tried to kill her.[9] The Taliban was internationally denounced by governments, human rights organizations and feminist groups. Taliban officials responded to condemnation by further denouncing Yousafzai, indicating plans for a possible second assassination attempt, which was justified as a religious obligation. Their statements resulted in further international condemnation.[citation needed]
Following her recovery, Yousafzai became a prominent activist for the right to education. Based in Birmingham, she founded the Malala Fund, a non-profit organisation,[10] and in 2013 co-authored I Am Malala, an international best seller.[11] In 2012, she was the recipient of Pakistan's first National Youth Peace Prize and the 2013 Sakharov Prize.[12] In 2014, she was the co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, along with Kailash Satyarthi of India. Aged 17 at the time, she was the youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate.[13][14][15] In 2015, Yousafzai was a subject of the Oscar-shortlisted documentary He Named Me Malala. The 2013, 2014 and 2015 issues of Time magazine featured her as one of the most influential people globally. In 2017, she was awarded honorary Canadian citizenship and became the youngest person to address the House of Commons of Canada.[16] Yousafzai attended Edgbaston High School from 2013 to 2017,[17] and is currently studying for a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford.[18]



Friday, 13 September 2019

crashing into the moon



another lunar probe 
lost and crashing 
into the moon

and here we are again
lost and crashing 
in a saloon

all afternoon 
while the world is burning
here's to the world 
while the world is turning

Saturday, 23 March 2019

to capture our gods



to capture our gods
catch them in motion

drawing on walls
living on the threshold
waiting for rain
wishing the rain away
waiting for rain

cats in the corridor
always wanting in
and out again
always wanting in and out

to capture our gods
catch them in motion

banging out sound 
living by owl-light
waiting for sun
wishing the sun away
waiting for sun

cats in the corridor
always wanting in
and out again
always wanting in and out

to capture our gods
catch them in motion

wearing new faces
living by hoax
waiting for moonrise
wishing the moon away
waiting for moonrise

cast in the corridor
always wanting in
and out again
always wanting in and out

Tuesday, 29 January 2019

I want a music in me

[[ Well. Music and night. ]]

because I close my eyes
I want a music in me

I want an art in here 
when I go into sleep

when I die I will close
my eyes and hear a bell

when I am dying I will hear 
the voices falling, rising 

across the last threshold
in wave, in wave, in waterswell

because I close my eyes
I want a music in me

Thou art in me,
Mistress Night,
in comely dress
of soft Moon-light




Saturday, 19 January 2019

half-moon morning


I could hang my hat
on the corner 
of this sharp half-moon morning

I could sail away
in the belly
of this smooth half-moon boat

If 
you haven't 
looked at this 
morning as 
something you 
choose

don't follow your shoes
there's a sky up there

I could lay my head
on the pillow 
of this soft cloud floating

I could leave forever
on the mountain 
of this island cloud rolling
rolling away

If 
you haven't 
looked at this 
morning as 
something you 
choose

don't follow your shoes
there's a sky up there


Tuesday, 8 January 2019

hello world



we'll climb 
Dynamite Mountain
and light the fuse

we'll get our faces 
floating
on world news

we'll be the first eyes 
to see
the invisible half

we'll burn our way 
home or die
and still laugh

ancient Apollo 
computer just big enough 
to write hello world

show us the secrets of dust

Monday, 31 December 2018

intentional love song 6: bird at night


[[ moving old props around the stage ]]


what's the bird that sings at night?
poems rhyme about nightingales
but it's winter here and cold
and I don't think we have nightingales
in our trees

so what's the bird that sang just now?
now the cars have all gone
and the trains have shut down
and everyone else has drifted away
in the freeze?

every song has a moon
when you're up all night and lonely

every song has a moon and stars
when your days are right

all my songs have only you
and we're all alone

think I'll go out to hear that bird
if that bird hasn't flown away 
don't lock the door behind me
I'm just going to see what I hear
I won't take the keys


Sunday, 30 December 2018

lunar haiku


ancient Apollo 
computer just big enough 
to write hello world

VIII

[[let's do it as a song lyric]]


VIII

American fighter pilots 
from the battleship states
flex a muscle for America
flex a muscle for God

pack 'em in tightly 
side by each with Jesus 
flex a muscle for America
flex a muscle for God

pack 'em in tightly 
shoulder to shoulder 
wind 'em up tight
and let 'em go

they shoot off 
spouting voodoo 
looking for the moon

they shoot a hole 
through the pure blue
inject themselves into space 

up where no up is, 
no down (won't stay down), 
out where no air is, 
no sound (so no sound)

Merry Xmas
according to scripture
according to script
sextant and star chart

slip around behind 
the man in the moon 
flex a muscle for America
flex a muscle for God

aim this can of man meat 
at that blue ornament
flex a muscle for America
flex a muscle for God

Saturday, 15 December 2018

intentional love song 1: other side of the world




where are you
when you're here 
in my hand
glowing back at me?

where you are
do you touch
your fingers 
to my words?

where you are
is your face 
floating bright 
in the dark?

where you are
do you think of

faraway people 
you'll never see?
people in places 
you'll never be?

is one of those people me?

it's midnight here and the sky is black
but the moon is turning the tide
I know you're there with the sun on your skin
how is it there on the other side?
on the other side of the world?

Sunday, 28 October 2018

home by night

[[ A pretty regular song about lovers, one driving home to the other because they can't wait to see each other, but maybe some minor ambiguity about lunar madness and whether the wolf is any potential unknown enemy of the two lovers, or the wolf is the lover racing to get the lover at home, or the wolf is the lover waiting at home in bed like the wolf waited for Red Riding Hood. What big ears you have! ]]


nothing more peaceful than 
home by night

sensible people are 
home by night

home before wolves 
stumble out of the wood

home before wolves 
tumble Red Riding Hood

Wait for me there
on the edge of the bed
I'm halfway there in my head

Put on some music, 
my favorite tune
I'm driving under the moon

picture you sitting there  
home by night

combing your shining hair
home by night

safe from the wolves 
roaming out of doors

safe from the wolves 
of the metaphors

Wait for me there
on the edge of the bed
I'm halfway there in my head

Put on some music, 
my favorite tune
I'm driving under the moon




Tuesday, 28 August 2018

ring of stones

at the... 
end of the 
actual 
day

when the... 
moon pushes 
through the 
sky

we fold 
our bones
round a ring 
of stones

and talk 
across 
a fire

we talk 
across 
a fire

we wonder how - we will get through the snow
we wonder how - we will carry this load
we wonder how - we will build a new home
we wonder how - we will follow this road

oh, go on
we go on
we can do 
nothing else 
but go on

oh, go on
we go on
and we sing
while we walk
a walking song 

till the... 
end of the 
actual 
day

when the... 
moon pushes 
through the 
sky

we fold 
our bones
round a ring 
of stones

and talk 
across 
a fire

remember how - we would lie in the grass
remember how - we would play by the shore
remember how - we would watch the day pass
remember how - we wanted nothing more


[[ nomads, refugees, wanderers  ]]

Wednesday, 15 August 2018

a bad-luck moon

a bad-luck moon above 
the city morgue

another woman dead
under another moon

say, let's go in and see 
the damage done

he held his fingers here
and crushed her throat

he sank his teeth in here
and consumed

gentlemen, 
there's a new 
cannibal 
in this town

it could be anything
the sight of the sea
the full moon
anything

a bad-luck moon above 
the city morgue

another woman dead
under another moon

I'm so afraid, she said,
I'm shaking like a leaf

then the lights go out


[[ I think I was watching Doctor X (1932) ]]

Saturday, 7 July 2018

the lifting night


The lifting night is leaving -
Birds begin.

Before the sun is up,
birds begin the day.
Before the moon is down,
birds begin the day.

= = = = =

This is where we all are
in this air between
our sun and moon and earth.

Inhaling and exhaling,
all exchanging
breath for breath for breath.

= = = = =

From tree to tree
a gathering of bird 
begins to dawn:

how once we preyed
and how we once
were preyed upon.

Thursday, 5 July 2018

she will turn the moon around

one touch, she will turn your wine to vinegar
one touch, she will wither the crop in your field
one touch, she will tumble the fruit from your trees

a woman like her (a woman like her), she will turn the moon around
a woman like her (a woman like her), she will turn the moon around

one look, she will smoke the image in your mirror
one look, she will dull the edge of your razor
one look, she will crumble your iron and brass

a woman like her (a woman like her), she will turn the moon around
a woman like her (a woman like her), she will turn the moon around

do not let her
draw the water
from your well

she will drive
the bees from your hive

a woman like her cannot cross a running stream
a woman like her will cause your horse to miscarry
a woman like her will drown your boat in a storm

a woman like her (a woman like her), she will turn the moon around
a woman like her (a woman like her), she will turn the moon around


[[ See the Golden Bough. http://www.bartleby.com/196/149.html ]]

Monday, 28 May 2018

the seclusion of girls

first sign of blood
the girl must run

the girl must not touch the ground
the girl must not feel the sun
the girl must not be seen by men

first sign of blood
the girl must run

she must run (run to the river)
she must hide (hide in the long grass)
she must run (run to the river)
she must hide (hide in the long grass)
the girl must run

first sign of blood
the girl must run

she must
live in the
house of the
heartless

she must
live in the
darkened
house

first sign of sun
this curs-ed girl
become a skeleton

first sign of blood
the girl must run

[[ This one is straight out of The Golden Bough. http://www.bartleby.com/196/149.html and today's news ]]

Saturday, 10 February 2018

Lunar Blues

[slow, relaxed, romantic]
All we have in common
is that moon pasted yellow on the sky
All we have in common
is that moon pasted yellow on the sky
Better get to what we came for
'Fore we tell that yellow moon goodbye.

Close the window to the night air
The birds will all be singing soon
Close the window to the night air
The birds will all be singing soon
And don't forget to pull the curtains
on that sneaky old man in the moon.

[a bit faster...]
Baby, watch the clock
Time runs faster than you fear
Baby, watch the clock
Time runs faster than you fear
Better check your almanac
The shortest evening of the year

[vinegar strokes instrumental]

[resolution]
I will slip out your window
and head down the road with the moon
I will slip out your window
and head down the road with the moon
but I won't forget you, honey,
or this moon in June soon...

[[ then back to the top and fade ]]

drawn to water


Our pale daughter,
drawn to water,
wears her outside in.

She first spoke for us
at two, on the bus:
"I am inside my skin." 

She first noticed me
when she was three
humming a wandering tune.

"Sing me the one
with the moon and sun.
I am the sun in the moon."

Wednesday, 7 February 2018

moon go down


[[ it feels like infidelity or lycanthropy or both ]]

I cannot tell
where I go tonight

moon go down
moon go down
moon go down in my heart 

I cannot tell
where I go tonight

be no witness
where I go tonight

moon follow on
moon follow on
moon follow on through the wood

nobody know
nobody know
nobody know bad from good

I cannot tell
where I go tonight