Dear James,
It's often very difficult to comment on poems that are meant as performance
pieces as the criteria seem to be very different from poems presented on the
page, as 'twere.
But, for me, this seems very stilted and over-wordy, - a bit pompous, in
fact, so it didn't really draw me into the poem.
Kind regards,
grasshopper
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Bell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, March 06, 2004 12:49 PM
Subject: [THE-WORKS] New Sub: Welcome To The Slaughterhouse
> I've road tested this one at a reading and it seemed to go down well. I'd
be
> interested in responses to it on the page, so to speak.
>
> WELCOME TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE
>
> We have decorated the slaughterhouse with geraniums,
> politely requested that sense descend upon the carnage.
>
> We have supplied for the event cocktails and nibbles
> to blight the famine
> invite all at dinner afterwards to eat of a third world
> without conscience, for the supermarket - our caterers -
> will pay them.
>
> We will give the prize for snapshot of the year -
> digital of course -
> where the models in arty matt black and white will
> be seen to have transcended their anorexic conditions;
> people from nations that have been thoroughly cleansed
> and now suitable for the drawing room will speak
> the same language as us with charming accents
> having lived to tell the tale.
>
> Hell, we can now declare, is B&Q* on a Sunday - there is no limbo.
>
> Kurt Vonnegut,the creator of time traveller Kilgour Trout,
> will later host a special edition of Antiques Roadshow
> with fragments of Dresden China.
>
> Fragile empathists, who have become vegetarians
> at the sight of raw meat
> will hover around geranium varieties names after pacifists.
>
> Adrian Mitchell will attend later after revisiting the Albert Hall
> without a standing ovation
> on and old age pension depleted by the cost of ammunition
> fired with depleted uranium.
>
> After dinner, he and many supporters from left of centre
> who read the Guardian
> will occupy the last Public Library to freely display banned books
> from many countries and poetry by poets who did not
> write about World War One.
>
> So, welcome to the slaughterhouse - we are glad you have come -
> remember though, the night is still young.
>
> *B&Q - A UK DIY store.
>
>
>
>
> bw
> James
>
>
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