this is really awesome. "hobgoblins", "hymns of elimination", "It was
a sounding grotto", & the last line, &c. what's it about though? I
mean, what is the setting? it's a beautiful poem, but strange to me.
read "ontological rot"; fucking brilliant art, very interesting
commentary. THANKS
KS
On 30/03/07, Dominic Fox <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 00:00
>
> The kobold phantom chronograph
> worn by Kiefer Sutherland in "24":
>
> his ticking timepiece
> as the boot goes in.
>
> 01:00
>
> Sleep-famished he saw everywhere
> hobgoblins, some in the uniform of guards
>
> stirring gruel-pots and chattering
> obscenely amongst themselves.
>
> 02:00
>
> Movements of aircraft carriers
> in darkened waters, of unmarked containers;
>
> improvised rendition of old numbers,
> hymns of elimination.
>
> 03:00
>
> They now gnaw at his feet while he lies
> insensible, working his empty mouth,
>
> his shaking lips incompetent
> to form the words of dismissal.
>
> 04:00
>
> It was a sounding grotto, vaulted,
> vast; the walls imprinted
>
> with sullen figures, stilled lives
> on heavy rotation, leering from the murk.
>
> 05:00
>
> This also, by the dawn's early pre-light:
> night-terrors clothing themselves with substance.
>
> The *racailles*: why have they not fled to their burrows?
> The devils, why are they still here?
>
> 06:00
>
> Divers alarums. The first howls of morning:
> dogs, children, cars. The sun puts out his rays.
>
> The papers declare: "Pumpkin Head Escapes!" -
> blurred orange jumpsuit in daring cross-country dash.
>
> 07:00
>
> The phantom chronograph - like something
> from children's literature. Timekeeping
>
> a vanished technique in this land of the dead:
> whole days dance widdershins about the clockface.
>
> * * *
>
> Some context for this may be found in k-punk's excellent articles on
> Nigel Cooke and The Fall ("Pumpkinhead Xscapes" is the title of a
> relatively obscure Fall tune) - see especially:
>
> http://k-punk.abstractdynamics.org/archives/008654.html
>
> and
>
> http://k-punk.abstractdynamics.org/archives/008993.html
>
> - these are among the best things Mark has ever written, and I cannot
> commend them highly enough.
>
> Dominic
>
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