I’m intrigued by your comments about “Chillingham” Are you meaning it has an
association to counting money to pay the Ferryman? I never realised that.
(But how much sidles into our poems without our consciousness being aware of
it? Plenty!). Could you tell me more?
(The reason why I mentioned it is that it was where I used to get off the
Metro!) If it has more significance then I’d love to know more!
I know about Chillingham Castle, and Chillingham cattle. But at the moment
I'm a long way from any reference sources to find out more about what you
might be saying...
Bob
PS (to others as well as yourself!). I'll respond to the good, very helpful,
things you've all said later!
B

>From: arthur seeley <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Travelling Out
>Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2002 07:13:53 +0100
>
>Bob , I am minded of some lines from an Eliot poem, which I'll be blessed
>if
>I can recall, about the silence that comes over an underground train when
>it
>stops between stations, no one talks to anyone nor is there eye contact,
>would be a loose paraphrase.
>Your poem deals with this phenomenon, the drunk ignored, the wingbeats
>heard
>in the silence of a crowded place,the total lack of contact each with each,
>the ability of people to insulate themselves from contact( that might
>potentially prove dangerous, I suppose). It is a sort of death you suggest
>as the image of coffin and catafalque enter the last strophe.Are you aware
>of the import of " Chillingham"? 'Counting change'= coins for the ferryman?
>'Monument' in the first strophe, " Chrysanthemums" in the second, all
>memento mori.Regards Arthur.
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Bob Cooper" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2002 9:33 PM
>Subject: Travelling Out
>
>
> > A poem (in 4 parts) - with the words in italics appearing *between
>asterics*
> > - whaddya think? yr C & C welcome:
> >
> > Travelling Out
> >
> >         1.
> >
> > By the Monument everyone,
> > as if they didn't, saw
> > the invisible man.  Sprawled
> > on the Metro steps, legless
> > on cider and wine, trying
> > to say, *Change, spare any
> > change.* Poor bastard, needing
> > what we all need, money to die.
> >
> >
> >
> >         2.
> >
> > As you get onto the platform
> > there ought to be a jukebox -
> > free, like in The Trent -
> > with the 45s that bring our lives,
> > neon lit, towards us,
> > and here each lyric can be held
> > like the white chrysanthemums
> > this Japanese woman carries,
> > wet in their cellophane,
> > gripped below a calm face.
> >
> >
> >
> >         3.
> >
> > Waiting in silence
> > with good-looking students,
> > mums holding satchels and toddlers,
> > a man with a leather suitcase,
> > and the illuminated sign saying:
> > *North Shields, 2 Minutes,*
> > as a pigeon hurtles past
> > from darkness to darkness -
> > the sound of its wingbeats,
> > its expressionless face -
> > nobody moves.
> >
> >
> >         4.
> >
> > The double carriage
> > like a coffin on a catafalque
> > slowly rumbles in, squeals,
> > pauses as we get on, trembles,
> > then mechanically sways out.
> > Counting change, we sit quietly.
> > Is it really like this?
> > Someone reads The Chronicle,
> > someone opposite stands,
> > then sighs while disembarking
> > in heaven or Chillingham Road.
> >
> >
> > Bob Cooper
> >
> > Footnotes:
> > (if y didn't need them could y let me know?)
> > Monument - Grey's Monument in the centre of newcastle, also a Metro
>station
> > Metro - an electric train
> > (I think the above aren't essential myself)
> > The Trent - a pub
> > The Chronicle - the Newcastle Evening Chronicle, a newspaper
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Chat with friends online, try MSN Messenger: http://messenger.msn.com




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