thanks, Tim. It's appreciated. L
On 25 September 2014 10:11, Tim Allen <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Really like this Lawrence. Thanks.
>
> Cheers
>
> Tim
>
> On 24 Sep 2014, at 13:25, Lawrence Upton wrote:
>
> > a square of denim, squareness imposed
> >
> > by the photograph containing its image,
> >
> > buttons done up; head level, tapering into
> >
> > a kind of wedge which one might call the nose;
> >
> > all's quiet, the houses smoking, hills deserted
> >
> >
> >
> > the virgin has sumptuous hair, the child god set aside,
> >
> > her hands clasped together loosely in an ill-fitting jumper.
> >
> >
> >
> > Usually all the religious icons have been smashed.
> >
> > He clenches his fist, but does not look at anyone.
> >
> > The sleeping bag slips slowly off the bed, half unzipped, flaps
> >
> > folded back, turned down like lapels;
> >
> > or skin and flesh in a bungled operation;
> >
> > a joke gorilla breaks through the forest,
> >
> > pretending to be the god of war,
> >
> > but no one believes in it;
> >
> > a young girl scratches her head,
> >
> > a sign of sophisticated bewilderment
> >
> > because she is smiling
> >
> > and does not seem to be at all afraid.
> >
> >
> >
> > Winter is close: the flat extremities
> >
> > of the inhabitants cast low shadows
> >
> > and do not raise themselves above the artificial
> >
> > darkness coming in off the sea; all growl
> >
> > at each other and attempt to speak,
> >
> > but no one succeeds in communicating anything
> >
> > beyond malice.
> >
> >
> >
> > Two headless corpses have been laid, face up,
> >
> > upon each other; hands which slapped together
> >
> > in a childish game; one man's shirt is glistening
> >
> > with blood; she looks up at him from the warm floor;
> >
> > firelight reflects off a bright cheek;
> >
> > she is smiling; she is welcoming; he hesitates
> >
> > and then he speaks. She does not listen.
> >
> >
> >
> > The steps of the pyramid rise towards midday sun.
> >
> > A rotten cow's head feeds flies. It is the autumn.
> >
> > The people have no hope of returning to their homes;
> >
> > but, perhaps, if they can stop laughing, there is still something
> >
> > to be done. There shall be no escape, but there is a chance
> >
> > that some sense of community may be faked in these circumstances,
> >
> > despite all. They gain nothing by submission,
> >
> > except heavier burdens. Whether their masters quarrel
> >
> > with each other or agree, their bondage is equally ruinous.
> >
> > There is too much salt in the soil for proper crops.
> >
> > There is too much sulphur in the air to breathe correctly;
> >
> > but a sniggering sort of laughter is permissible.
> >
> >
> >
> > Headless corpses descend the escalator.
> >
> > An attendant calls out the range for the buyers to hear:
> >
> > green over blue, blue over blue, blue denim. Squared off blues
> >
> > in curving shapes. Our heavyweight stone-washed classic
> >
> > is a real classic. Nothing is any longer safe from their greed and lust
> >
> > yet what a mere handful the invaders are.
> >
> >
> >
> > She adopts the stance of a man and leans upon his shoulder.
> >
> > He affects not to see her. He does not reject the advance.
> >
> > He puts on his glasses, throws his jacket backwards
> >
> > over the other shoulder, and looks into the middle distance
> >
> > with smug assurance: blue denim, blue over blue, ecru, black.
> >
> > There are two styles for men and one for ladies.
> >
> > Blue denim, blue over blue, green over blue, ecru and black.
> >
> > Her majesty's equerry takes over the microphone. Looks like
> >
> > an elongated diamond or a double-headed axe. Bottle. Navy.
> >
> > Raspberry. White. Cut from a generously-sized unisex block.
> >
> > Can be worn on its own or underneath a jacket, giving a smart
> >
> > but casual look. Style reference Alan. He is on his own.
> >
> > The sky has darkened. Leggings are made from our soft quality cotton.
> >
> > There is ample evidence that pepper sprays are only mildly carcinogenic
> >
> > and are not therefore greatly deleterious to health
> >
> > unless the target should be grossly asthmatic. Camel; khaki;
> >
> > ecru; taupe. Style reference Stan, who has nearly thirty years with the
> > force.
> >
> >
> >
> > We must not be scared by the loss of one or two battles.
> >
> > Wear your best working clothes, put your hand behind your head
> >
> > and stretch and laugh. Ankle length. Black, navy, grey marl, ecru.
> >
> > Everyone should have several of these in their wardrobe.
> >
> > He pulls a brick from the wall and hurls it towards the enemy;
> >
> > but they laugh as they come forward. They have water-cannon;
> >
> > they have rockets; they have curved sticks set with broken glass;
> >
> > they have the newspapers behind them and bright lights to dazzle.
> >
> > One size fits all. The same paralysis in the face of the foe;
> >
> > the same insubordination towards that which had been agreed.
> >
> > She, however, wore his boots and wore them to great effect,
> >
> > one leg curled around her, one leg cocked, elbow on it at the knee,
> >
> > the hand of the other arm and hand sub-system clutching
> >
> > the ankle of the leg curled round her. She had full lips
> >
> > and slightly tousled hair; her smile suggested honour and dignity
> >
> > but stopped short of bloodshed.
> >
> >
> >
> > The kids came out of the woods after a hard struggle:
> >
> > bottle, red, navy, white, birch grey. They were made
> >
> > from the same heavy fabric as their parents,
> >
> > the summer now far spent, and they were watching
> >
> > the points where danger threatens. Bottle; black; navy; birch grey.
> >
> > Everything combines to hinder or delay a new campaign. Bottles,
> >
> > broken in fights or by carelessness, it hardly matters. Birch grey,
> >
> > alder, oak and ash. White where the fires burned the fiercest.
> >
> > Red of your blood --
> >
> >
> >
> > Cut out the sentimentality. Cut out
> >
> > all of it or I'll cut it out of you myself.
> >
> > The plan was hastily conceived.
> >
> > Some of them were self-assured;
> >
> > some of them tried to smile and look composed.
> >
> > None wanted to fight. None wanted to retreat. None wanted to die.
> >
> > They copied each others' identity papers and pretended
> >
> > to relationships they did not have. Black, navy, green and red,
> >
> > Bordeaux and green, style reference Rome. The strong carried the weak.
> >
> > None were well but most survived and all contained their rage
> >
> > until there should be some possibility of retribution. Navy, dark red,
> >
> > olive, petrol; black, navy, bottle of wine; dark denim, light denim,
> >
> > they were suddenly upon us, swimming whilst carrying their arms,
> >
> > their horses under control, the background music synched
> >
> > to the camera. What could embarrass or defeat a foe who attacked like
> that?
> >
> >
> >
> > The photographs do not do justice to this excellent piece.
> >
> > A small roll neck, the head disabled or cut off.
> >
> > Other features include an open welt.
> >
> >
> >
> > She turns her back to the camera, then turns her head to face it.
> >
> > The hair flounces forward with the movement; the face starts to smile.
> >
> > The hands are wrong; the jumper's shapeless; but the guns
> >
> > are in position and the population has been gradually led
> >
> > into the demoralising temptations of arcades,baths and banquets.
> >
> >
> >
> > This is an established classic and is equally suitable for men and women.
> >
> > He stands behind her with the gun in the small of her back.
> >
> > They smile at the commandant who is baffled and in despair.
> >
> > Black. Indigo. Black, indigo. And then she gets the joke
> >
> > and she just can't stop laughing. I'm going to fall off the log,
> >
> > you bastard, she says. A woman passing with her dog on a leash
> >
> > tries to look shocked, can't quite make it. Flecks of mud stain
> >
> > his white shirt. Slowly she takes off the superfluous rain coat
> >
> > to reveal her jacket, nautical blue, cactus, India ink.
> >
> > We've chosen this jacket with great care.
> >
> > Produced from the finest, heavy grain hide,
> >
> > it is really a substantial garment. It will get better and better
> >
> > with age whilst keeping out the worst that the English winter
> >
> > can throw at you, whilst looking incredibly stylish as well.
> >
> >
> >
> > When I consider the motives we have for fighting
> >
> > and the critical positions we are in, I have a strong feeling
> >
> > that the united front you are showing today will mean
> >
> > the dawn of liberty for the whole of Britain.
>
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