Hi grasshopper,
Thanks for the reply!
Yeh, it may just be me that's wanting each image clarified a little more
(which you've done in what you've said!). I still sort of feel - because
they're all separate and successive references/statements - that I'm reading
them all together! If they each occupied a different line I might see that
they wern't linked... or if they were in separate sentences to show they
wern't connected. (& the 2nd. suggestion probably keps the rhythm you've
created, the energy you've created with cesuras, going better).
(And does "dip the buckets in Lethe" also imply the water's to be thrown -
or merely stored in the bucket? Maybe Dip the buckets in Lethe, throw the
water." is something like what you're saying.) Just a thought...
Bob
>From: grasshopper <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: New sub-Lucifer on the news (language warning)
>Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2003 16:10:55 -0000
>
>Dear Bob,
>Many thanks for your comments.
>Explanations of the last part-it's based on the idea of driving off 'the
>dogs' summoned by the bitch on heat. Throw a bucket of water over them-
>standard advice to discourage amorous activity.
Also citronella is a strong citrus smell that masks other odours and is
off-putting for animals.
The garlic is another obvious repellent, but Lucifer would rather it was
used for his next meal.
>Deep swarm is an image that comes to me from watching too much sci-fi. I
>thought of the angels in tiered ranks, flying in a deep cloud as a battle
>formation.
The great sirens are the great alarm sirens of Hell. Never heard
>of 'em? They must exist though, eh?
>Bugle me, boys, This is an echo of that great film The Sweet Smell of
>Success,in which the horrible character played by Burt Lancaster is
>continually commanding 'Match me, Sidney' - ie light my cigarette. Bugle
>me, boys, I think means, Give me a fanfare, I'm on my way...
I don't know if that clears it up at all.I never try to be enigmatic or
>unclear for the sake of it, but I realise sometimes I compress a bit.
>Kind regards,
> grasshopper
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Bob Cooper" <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2003 2:05 PM
>Subject: Re: [THE-WORKS] New sub-Lucifer on the news (language warning)
>
>
> > Hi grasshopper
> > A sizzler of a poem! It never lets me relax or lets me loose. I'm
>gripped
>by
> > it to the end.
> >
> > The last parts:
> > "Dip the buckets in Lethe, fill flasks
> > with citronella (save the garlic
> > for my gazpacho). Shrill the great sirens
> > and launch the squadrons to deep swarm
> > again. Bugle me, boys, and remember:
> > brightness hides the enemy."
> >
> > still puzzles me more than grabs me though... (I love the music of the
> > lines, but I'm baffled by the ways the words work as carriers of
>meaning)
> > I'm not yet able to link Lucifer with The Lethe, or with garlic,
>citronella,
> > and gazpacho...
> > I'm also not able to work out (yet) what and where the "great sirens"
>are...
> > And "deep swarm" puzzles me. It sounds great but I'm not yet able to
>find
>a
> > meaning for it... (Part of me wants to link it with insects - which
>links
>in
> > with the citronella, which in often an insect repellant, but I'm still
> > letting that soak in...)
> > Is "bugle me" an equvalent to saying "phone me" (ie get in touch when
>you
> > arrive).
> > It all feels like the list clue in a crossword - I keep struggling with
>the
> > clue and looking at the letters I've already got but the answer isn't
>yet
> > bursting into my mind.
> > But the last words "and remember: brightness hides the enemy." really
>sings
> > loudly! A whazzer of a last statement to make.
> > The title "Lucifer On The News" makes me want to link the Lucifer
> > myth/fable/stories to what's on the (TV/Radio) News - and I find I'm
> > thinking about everything that's developing in and around Iraq. Part of
>me
> > thinks this poem's creating (recreating?) a myth to say what's behind
>the
> > news... At least that's my impressions as I've been reading.
> > But I'm sometimes not too bright in making connections (!) and I sense
> > no-one else may have been as puzzled as I by the links/references/images
>in
> > the lines I've quoted.
> > Bob
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: grasshopper <[log in to unmask]>
> > >Reply-To: The Pennine Poetry Works <[log in to unmask]>
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >Subject: New sub-Lucifer on the news (language warning)
> > >Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003 12:31:12 -0000
> > >
> > >(Strong language warning)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Lucifer on the news
> > >
> > >
> > >You tell me the earth is bleeding -
> > >so what? The old bitch is in heat again,
> > >forging a wake of blood-spots
> > >as she whines at the sky.
> > >Tell me what you think she summons
> > >from the darkness, what lurks outside
> > >the yard, sniffing, cock twitching with must?
> > >Oh, the angels of light would be at
> > >the latch, flinging the gate wide.
> > >They worship fertility with every quill-quiver,
> > >but they can't fuck - there's the juice.
> > >They'd hover over the whelping
> > >like cramp-bellied buzzards. Sex
> > >thrills them, the mad abundance of sperm,
> > >seed and spawn lavish as Solomon's wealth.
> > >They swoon in the vicarious heat
> > >of passion, melt in mirrored comes,
> > >eyes raised and narrowed to lasers.
> > >
> > >Spread your dark wings, lads, drive off
> > >the dogs, ride shot-gun to prevent
> > >that curse of belly. I could have snipped
> > >the cord long ago, ended the threat,
> > >but the governor claims it's unnatural,
> > >that all possibilities must be allowed.
> > >He won't open the gate, but if it were
> > >to swing ajar, with a breeze, a waft
> > >of pinions, a nudge of sandal-sole -
> > >well, that's already accounted for
> > >in the long-range plan. It's his job
> > >to dream, and our duty to act.
> > >Dip the buckets in Lethe, fill flasks
> > >with citronella (save the garlic
> > >for my gazpacho). Shrill the great sirens
> > >and launch the squadrons to deep swarm
> > >again. Bugle me, boys, and remember:
> > >brightness hides the enemy.
> > >
> > > grasshopper
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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