Dot to Dot
Back then, times got hard,
Inner city, life not without its challenges
Dot to dot and colouring in
We said, half at least in jest
Morning break, desperate
Last cigarette or brown and tannin tea
Rubbed out, eradicated
Whiteboard clean
Naturally, before the clipboards came
With lists, humourless, to tick
Or not, lacking all sense
Of fun, or what it takes
Times get hard, to survive
Like crossword grids
And poetry
Dot to dot the joining up
Give me order, logic neat
Ah ha moment, penny
Dropped, ducks so soothing in a row
Puzzled solved
Chaos for a moment quelled
Sweet illusion, bring it on
Wipe the worktops
Shine the floor
Solve the mystery poet hid
Though anarchy in patience wait
Join the dots and colour in
Back then, times got hard,
Inner city, life not without its challenges
Dot to dot and colouring in
We said, half at least in jest
Morning break, desperate
Last cigarette or brown and tannin tea
Rubbed out, eradicated
Whiteboard clean
Naturally, before the clipboards came
With lists, humourless, to tick
Or not, lacking all sense
Of fun, or what it takes
Times get hard, to survive
Like crossword grids
And poetry
Dot to dot the joining up
Give me order, logic neat
Ah ha moment, penny
Dropped, ducks so soothing in a row
Puzzled solved
Chaos for a moment quelled
Sweet illusion, bring it on
Wipe the worktops
Shine the floor
Solve the mystery poet hid
Though anarchy in patience wait
Join the dots and colour in
October 11th 2009, Hounoux
I think I get the gist of it!! Too true alas but you see its much easier to measure straight lines and uniform shapes until we can implant micro chips and do a computer analysis of input, output, efficiency, value added etc. Then all be easier, the clipboards can be replaced. Does creativity sit in the brain though?! Whoops I'm going la la!
ReplyDeleteThis poem came out of a feeling that when my mind is in a whirl and making me feel uneasy and chaotic, I turn to crosswords and actually to reading poetry- as well as to wiping down surfaces- because 'solving' them or putting them in order gives me the illusion of being in some control and of their being some pattern discernible in the world. Yes I do think creativity lies in the brain but I think we are talking right brain/ left brain. You have to be able to let go and go with the possibility of chaos in order to be creative, I think. Good questions Jude - really making me think! And also of course the connection to your work situation where the clipboards and tickers of boxes have taken over the madhouse.
ReplyDeleteSo true Sally, I also start tidying drawers, classifying,ordering putting like with like!It suddenly occured to me driving home that my response to your poetry is not how I imagine it should be in accademic circles. They evoke feelings, trigger thoughts and connections. They certainly help making order and sense out of chaos at times, I enjoy the way your words, lines although personal to you also enable me to identify and attune to some of my own inner world. I am beginning to appreciate listening and learning in a different way visiting 'just for me'.
ReplyDeleteIs very interesting what you say about learning and listening in a different way. I wrote a poem ages ago - might even be on old blog - called 'Poetry Reading' which was about my own feelings when immersing myself in difficult poetry (feeling frightened and as if I might be going to drown, go under, but learning that you have to just go with the words and trust the poem/poet to take you somewhere. I was re-reading comments yesterday on this blog and came upon yours making comparison with eastern way of understanding and of letting go of problems/ feelings which is not to agonise but just to record it and walk on.
ReplyDeleteDid you see also Poet's Footsteps which Jenny G calls a 'poet's manifesto'- brilliant description- in which I talk about poet as explorer, maker of connections, reader of secret languages.
Your deep response and thoughtfulness is very gratifying to this poet anyway.