I had thought this was some kind of local myth revived, like the Lambton
Worm, I mean we all know how you North Easterners are about such things,
monkey hanging and the like.
Joking apart its not about such at all. Its that ugliest of all monsters,
human kind, brimming with alcohol, testosterone, bile, hate and ignorance.
You see them all the time as I do, Bob. Do you despair as I do?
A goodly poem, a goodly read for which thanks.Regards Arthur
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Cooper" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2002 10:00 PM
Subject: The Return Of The Teesmonster
Something for C & C:
(with words in italics *shown by asterics*)
The Return Of The Teesmonster
On November nights of mist, even when it's April,
when you walk past Blaises, you can hear it moaning -
that low thin sound that makes kissing couples pause,
look sideways, move slightly apart, whisper *What's that,*
and a police van clatters on - its dogs' ears bristling
as their legs tremble, they know they don't want to get out -
and if the grey moon gets released from cloud
as light slants in slow waves across the estuary
then ripples made by its body, its rising neck, lap
quietly when they reach the Tuxedo Royale
while it pauses, head high beneath the Transporter Bridge,
where it moans again as a fight breaks out near the taxis
and in the bruised words, the gleam of spat blood,
the grazed knuckles and elbows and knees,
it's heard, the low moaning of cruelty, the cursing
that's centuries old, as old as the first ones
who told of its presence, and we hear it now
but haven't the phrases, the magical words
to say what it means, of how its sound reaches
deep in our silence, and after it's shadow has passed
and all we hear is the shouting - *Fuck you, Fuck me, Fuck that* -
as we walk below streetlights, one moment clear faced,
the next in darkness, we know of its kindness,
the size of its violence, and we know we have little to say.
Bob Cooper
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